The Wisconsin Association of Cheer and Pom Coaches held their annual varsity dance competition this weekend. The La Crosse center in La Crosse, WI hosted 87 different high school and collegiate level teams, which totaled to around 1,200 students. The competition kicked off on Friday, January 31, featuring Division 5 and 6 Pom, Division 3 Open, and Collegiate Pom teams. The following day, February 1, featured Division 1 through 4 Pom, Divisions 1 and 2 Open, and Collegiate Jazz and Hip-hop teams.
Several Lake Country area high schools made an appearance at the event. Arrowhead, Pewaukee, and Oconomowoc each saw their star dance teams take the stage. The teams have proudly represented their communities. The requirements to participate in the WACPC’s state variety competition are high, encouraging participants to undergo months of training, bonding, and working together with an attitude of sportsmanship. Music, timing, safety, and conduct are all important aspects of succeeding in this competition. Since the organization’s founding in the 1980s, it has given high school aged dancers countless opportunities to show off their skills while growing their confidence.
In 2024, no Lake Country schools placed in either the Cheer or the Dance State Championships. However, this has seemingly only motivated the teams to work harder to achieve their dreams of success. One of the dance captains on the Oconomowoc High School dance team stated that in previous years “The team couldn’t even perform a competition dance”. Videos from Oconomowoc’s team send off paints a perfect picture of a high school coming together to celebrate hard work and perseverance. The school marching band played loud and upbeat music, while fellow high school students touted decorations such as homemade posters and streamers.
The WACPC is a nonprofit, Wisconsin based organization that allows students to work on their dance and cheer skills. The group hosts several competitions, educational events, awards ceremonies, and so much more that gives Wisconsin dancers the ability to grow. The organization also publishes a strict set of guidelines that competitors must adhere to in order to succeed. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Director of Communications, Todd Clark, praised the group, saying “The WIAA and its member schools have recognized and endorsed the Wisconsin Association of Cheer and Pom Coaches as the organization aligned with school-based programs in the state since 2003. Although a number of other non-school competitions are offered by profit-seeking interests, the WACPC provides competitions and education for cheer and dance teams that embrace the ideals of interscholastic activities.”
Regardless of the outcome, Wisconsin’s Lake Country area schools can take pride in the dedication and courage which has brought these teams to the state championship. For many, it is a lifelong dream and a profound accomplishment that should bring pride not only to the teams and their families, but also to the entire community.