Chargerettes Look to Clinch First MHSAA State Title

By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com

The Oxford High School Chargerettes will perform for their sixth year at the MHSAA State Competition Friday, Dec. 14 in Jackson. Photo by Talbert Toole.

Oxford High School’s dance team, The Chargerettes, will leave it all on the floor this Friday as the young team travels to the Jackson Coliseum for the sixth year in a row in to compete for an MHSAA state championship.

The team of 14 girls has practiced for this moment throughout the season. Head Coach Robyn Lyons said the team usually begins each practice with a warm up, followed by the technicalities in dance movements. Once the girls have stretched and flexed each movement, the team begins to break down their routine eight count by eight count, Lyons said.

This year Lyons said the competition team felt more like a “pom squad” rather than her previous squads, which performed more like a jazz ensemble. Jazz performances usually allow the dancers to breathe through their motions whereas this routine the dancers need to move by breaking motion.

As the girls took time to practice executing moves with precision and expertise during last Saturday’s practice, Lyons said she wants the team to look at this year’s state competition as a group effort.

“I want them to leave state feeling as if they gave it their all,” she said. “I don’t want them to have any doubts of what they could have done better no matter what we place.”

The Chargerettes will compete against 12 other teams in the Small Varsity Pom 5A-6A division at 3:45 p.m. on Friday. Although the team has tough competition from surrounding schools, Lyons believes this year the team has the ability to clinch first place and bring home a state championship banner to the OHS gymnasium.

For more information on this year’s MHSAA Cheer and Dance competition, visit their website.