prepare with

Senior Gabriella Fields, senior Morgane Jastrzembski, senior Rylee Grossman, sophomore Amara Baty, senior Eliza Sprouse senior Jillian Ray and sophomore Clara Timmons perform during the homecoming football game on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. all photos by Brynlee Tucker

by staffer Jacob Eischen

Pommies start every practice with a rigorous 30-minute stretch routine. They contort themselves into incredibly impressive shapes with minimal effort. After their in-depth static and dynamic stretches, they begin to practice their routines.

The time of year affects the routines they practice. Football, basketball and competition seasons look slightly different. Certain routines must be prioritized in order to be prepared for all performances. The Pommies began practicing three days a week in July, primarily focusing on football routines. Halftime performances are the priority during sports season while competition routines are priority during competition season.

“It takes a lot to put something together,” head coach Megan Pabon said.

She uses her experience to determine the weaknesses of the team and any aspects of a routine that might need to be fixed. The

Unity is key in a Pommies performance. Performances are extremely precise leaving almost no margin for error, the slightest mistake or mistimed move can dock points in competition or leave a viewer with a tainted im- group may run through a routine in its entirety or take it beat by beat, breaking a routine down into all its components. This is where most of the clean-up is done to ensure that people are doing their job. pression of the team. Routines include sections of team-wide synchronization and parts in which individuals perform solo moves.

Sophomores Amara Baty and Clara Tiimmons, senior Jillian Ray, junior Olin Spencer and freshman Gabriella Mina stretch before practice, Friday, Feb. 10.

“Cleaning up every little head and hand and toe and angle, so that we all look unified,” Pabon said.

“It is very mentally and physically challenging just because there are so many things that go into doing dance that most people don’t really think about,” Pom-