During tryouts in May, the Antioch Community High School dance team expected to have only a varsity team, as in previous years. However, an exciting announcement changed everything: this season would include a JV team. Initially, the team consisted of only four members, but a second tryout during the first week of school brought in three more dancers, enabling the JV team to perform at halftime during JV football games.
Antioch Community High School’s head dance coach, Sarah Owen, saw the need for a JV team as a way to grow the program and encourage more underclassmen to participate. She and Assistant Coach Maggie Quirke believed that having only a varsity team made tryouts intimidating for new dancers, which limited growth. By reviving the JV program, Owen aimed to provide younger or less experienced dancers a chance to develop their skills and gain performance experience.
“Not everyone is ready for varsity right away,” Owen said. “But that doesn’t mean they don’t have talent or potential.”
JV Captain Ryliegh Matijevic is a sophomore and first year team member. Matijevic has been a part of the team since May and has shown immense progress as a leader and dancer. The past few weeks, she has shined with the execution of her headspring. At tryouts, she was not fully confident but she is now performing that skill in their halftime routine for the homecoming football game as a solo moment.
“Ryleigh leads by example, works hard at every single practice and has earned the respect of her teammates,” Owen said. “She is not only talented, but also kind, supportive, dependable and a great role model and that is why she was our top choice as captain for JV.”
Freshman Kira Kanabay joined the JV dance team in May and has had a positive experience, thanks to the encouragement and support of her teammates.
“Even though there are two separate teams, it doesn’t really feel like it because of all the girls on varsity who bring us together,” Kanabay said. “We are more like one family rather than divided into two.”
Kanabay is already looking forward to the next three seasons with excitement, eager to grow as a dancer and build more friendships along the way.
One person Kanabay admires on varsity is junior and co-captain Ella Curry. Curry’s kindness and leadership have been a standout part of Kanabay’s first season on the team.
“Ella is soft-spoken and nice,” Kanabay said. “When she needs to, she’s hardworking and helps out with everything, dance-related or not.”
Curry’s support and leadership have left a meaningful impression on younger team members like Kanabay, showcasing the strong bond between varsity and JV dancers.
The addition of the JV dance team has made this season an overwhelmingly positive experience for both returning veterans and new members. Coaches Owen and Quirke are now more determined than ever to grow the program in the coming years
