Published: August 19, 2008 11:25 am            

McAlester Varsity Pom brings home gold ribbon from camp

The 2008-2009 McAlester Varsity Pom Squad attended UDA Pom Camp in Springfield, Missouri, on the campus of Missouri State University in July 21-24.

The squad spent their camp week competing and learning new team and individual dance skills.

While at camp, the squad won numerous individual and team awards. The first night, the team was awarded a gold ribbon for their home dance routine.

“This is the first time the McAlester Varsity Pom has ever been awarded a gold ribbon and it is quite an accomplishment. This automatically qualified the girls to compete at Universal Dance Association Nationals in January 2009,” Coach Pam Davy said.

The McAlester Varsity Pom Squad won first overall against 21 other teams from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The team also brought home the Leadership Award — where other participants vote on the squad they would rather be on then their own.

Other team awards included spirit sticks, a superior trophy for the 64 blue ribbons earned and the rock star award chosen by the UDA staff for the ‘most spirited squad.’

Individual awards for UDA All Star Award and medal winners were Whitney Nelms, Devin Basinger, Taylor Woodley, Jenna Partain and Madeline Rind.

The All Star winners were invited to march in the New Years Eve 2008 Spirit Parade in Paris, France.

Another individual award went out to Sophomore Carly James as Drill Down Queen. She competed against 320 girls for the title.

The senior pom members — Whitney Nelms, Brianna Eldridge and Devin Basinger — were given invitations to audition for UDA staff positions next spring and invitations to march in the 2008 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

McAlester’s Varstiy Pom Squad has 23 members on its squad this year. The seniors team members are Capt. Brianna Eldridge, Capt. Whitney Nelms and Devin Basinger. Juniors are Jenna Partain, Madeline Rind and Taylor Woodley. Sophomore team members include Brooke Adcock, Bethany Andrews, Alexis Banks, Kayla DeNike, Skylar Greer, Erica Higgins, Maggie Jo Homer, Carly James, Tiara Johnson, Kayla Quisenberry and Kimberly Timmons. New to the squad are freshman team members Chandler Davy, Hunter Graham, Jill Hundley, Hailey Hyden and Caity Nelms.

The team manager is Brittany Crenshaw. The McAlester Varsity Pom Squad is under the direction of Davy and sponsor Penny Oss.

        

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