Seckman's JagSwag nearly captures Nationals

By: Janese Watson

It feels like it was just yesterday when JagSwag started the year. Now, the year is ending. The year has gone by very quickly, but been very successful. JagSwag has not only impressed the Seckman student body, but has impressed their competition judges as well, taking first place in both dance categories at the St. Charles competition. JagSwag also placed at the state competition. They received first place in their Mix routine and third place in their Jazz, getting third place overall at state, only one point away from second. The final competition of the year for JagSwag? Nationals, where jackets are handed out to the winners.
Each year, Seckman High School's dance team makes their way to the National Dance Alliance in Orlando, Florida, to compete for all to see. All their hard work, dedication, blood, sweat and tears come to an end on a stage with their best friends. Not everyone is familiar with the dance competition format and rules. Senior Sara Helfrich asked, “How does NDA really work?”  NDA is an organization that brings hundreds of dance teams together by categorizing them and judging until they find the strongest dance team. “May the best dance team win,” is something they like to say in Florida.  NDA is not an easy thing to get into; you must first qualify at your camp, and go from there. You may hear the word Florida and think it’s vacation time. That is not the case. “There is absolutely no vacationing when it’s National season,” explains JagSwag member Alyson Tidwell. Nationals is a place to compete and show off what you've been working so hard on all season.
Most teams consider themselves more like a family than teammates, JagSwag being one of those teams. It’s said that the closer your team is the better the performance.  JagSwag is closer than ever. Like every other team’s goal, JagSwag’s goal was to get first place. “From day one we have said ‘belief, be one, be wonderful’ and these girls have been everything and wonderful,” says Coach Kelly D. Ultimately, JagSwag finished second at NDA. While they fell just short of their goal of a national championship, these ladies have a lot to be proud of.