Winning the State Championship last year was a huge accomplishment for the Stillwater Pom team. They are going back with the goal to defend their title again. 

The team will compete in the Pom and Hip Hop categories Saturday in Tulsa, and Pom Coach Rachel Wilson said she thinks they are 100 percent ready for it. 

“We choose these categories based on our strengths as a team,” Pom Coach Rachel Wilson said.

Senior Sallie Hasenmyer said the Pom team placed 3rd in Pom and 2nd in Hip Hop her sophomore year. Then, last year they won Pom and Hip Hop. Hasenmyer said she is feeling emotional about it being her last year.

“Being on the Pom Squad has been one of my favorite things about high school,” Hasenmyer said. “It’s going to be really weird when it’s over, especially when it’s something I’ve always dreamed of being on when I was a little kid.”

The Pom team traveled to Tulsa early to watch Senior Emery Plank dance to her jazz solo Cry Baby by Janis Joplin. Plank likes doing solos because she loves the feeling of being able to do her own thing.

“I feel as ready as I can be,” Plank said. “I’ve been practicing a lot, and I’m super excited to perform at state one last time.”

Senior Molly Middlebrook said the team feels a lot more confident with their skills this year. Middlebrook feels more prepared this year than she has in the past two years.

“There is a lot of great competition this year, so hopefully we can defend our title and be double state champs again,” Middlebrook said.