UVU Competition - First Drill Competition of the Season!

On December 14, the Ellevés competed in their first drill competition of the season.  It was the UVU Invitational Drill Team Competition.  I like going to this competition because it is were State Drill is, but I also hate this competition because we don't get a dressing room and the trophies are cheap! 

 Getting ready in our small space.

This is how it will be at State, so it preps the team.

 Ready to kill the first routine - Hip Hop!

Crazy/fun pose

The first competition is always a learning experience for the team.  It really is an eye opener for the new girls as to what competition is and why little things matter so much!  We also learned we have a "questionable" move in our military routine.  This year the rules went all crazy again and things that used to be ok are not "illegal".  So, when they called over the loud speaker for the "Maple Mountain Coach to meet over in the south staging area behind the pipe and curtains", I knew something had happened.  As first, I thought it was in dance because it was just after we had performed our dance routine.  But, it was in military.  The judges said we had a "swinging stunt".  I'm thinking, "what?"  "A swinging stunt"?  What and when do we do that.  I asked to speak with the judges so I would know what they are referring to.  

When the judges showed me, I still wasn't sure and told them we did not have a swinging stunt in our routine. They said it was probably the way the group of girls did it that they were watching!  The judges had me get the group of girls they had been watching and they did the stunt for the judges.  They couldn't do it the way the judges thought they had seen!  I knew there was no way the girls had the strength to do the stunt the way the judges thought they had seen them do it!  But, it was a judgement call and we had to live with it.  So, I thought we probably wouldn't place at all in Military.

Team circle during awards.

 2nd Place in Hip Hop, 2nd Place in Dance, 2nd Place in Character, and 4th Place in Military

First Competition - UVU Invitational

Brandi Gessel placed in the drill down.

Not so bad, for our first competition.  Bountiful placed 1st above us in all of the categories except Murray won 1st in Hip Hop.  We learned a lot and we will improve a lot.  And we are changing the questionable stunt so there will be no questions!