 Members of the Grinnell High School Cheer/Dance Team competed at the ICCA State Championships at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Jacobson Building, on Saturday, Oct. 29, where the team finished fifth in the cheer/dance coed division. Pictured are, from left, front row: Madie Fenner, Zaria Luckett, Haley Moyer, Cailyn Grabe, Monica Gruman. Back row: Coach Sarah Dahlby Albright, Kimber Stark, Justin Durr, Will Dahlby Albright, Sophia Louden, Madison Hey, Ketsia Kiphanzu, Ava Morris, Coach Marissa Pronschinske, Coach Jordyn Moyes. By J.O. Parker Members of Grinnell High School Cheer/Dance team have been working hard and it is showing as they have earned some top hardware in recent competitions. The team competed in three competitions in October and brought home first, second, fourth and fifth place honors in two divisions - cheer/dance coed division and in coed stunt competitions. Following is the breakdown of their season: • The Spartan Challenge at the University of Dubuque, Oct. 16, where the team placed first in the cheer/dance coed division. • The Triton Challenge at Iowa Central Community College, Oct. 23, where the team placed fourth in the cheer/dance coed division. The coed stunt team, which did not compete a week earlier at the Spartan Challenge, placed second. The cheer/dance team also won the sportsmanship award. • ICCA State Championships at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Jacobson Building, Oct. 29, where the team finished fifth in the cheer/dance coed division. “This is the second highest placing ever and our only placing in coed, which is unclassed,” noted cheer coach Sarah Dahlby Albright. Grinnell’s coed stunt team finished the championships with a second place finish, the highest placing in any event at the state cheer level. “It’s also the only time we’ve ever taken a coed stunt group to state,” said Dahlby Albright. Cheer/dance team history According to Dahlby Albright, the Grinnell Cheer/Dance team finished in sixth place in Class 3A in 2021 and third in 3A in 2019. “We have only taken one other stunt group, it was all-girl and placed fourth in 3A in 2019,” Dahlby Albright said. Before 2019, the Grinnell Cheer/Dance team finished anywhere from 13th to seventh place. “This is my ninth year taking teams to state and I don't believe they competed at state before I started, and I know they didn't place higher than fifth if they did,” noted Dahlby Albright. Jordyn Moyes and Marissa Pronschinske, choreographer and coach, helped Dahlby Albright coach the cheer/dance team. Routines Cheer/dance is a 2.5 minute routine consisting of a one minute cheer, 1.5 minutes of music, stunts, jumps and tumbling throughout. We don't have much tumbling, so we need to make up for that with our stunts and motions. “We placed third in the stunt division at state and had 0 safety deductions, so we were very proud of that,” said Dahlby Albright. Coed stunt group performs a 1 minute routine with one base, one flyer, and one assist. “It is the goal to have the assist help as little as possible to score maximum difficulty points,” noted Dahlby Albright. Roster Seniors: Justin Durr (first year competing); Monica Gruman (third year competing - we did not compete in 2020); Madison Hey (second year competing) Juniors: Will Dahlby Albright (first year competing - was alternate last year); Sophia Louden (first year competing); Haley Moyer (second year competing); Kimber Stark (second year competing) Sophomores: Madie Fenner (second year competing); Cailyn Grabe (second year competing); Ketsia Kiphanzu (second year competing); Zaria Luckett (first year competing) Freshman: Ava Morris (alternate, first year competing) Stunt team: Senior Justin Durr – base; Junior Haley Moyer – flyer; Junior Will Dahlby Albright - base assist  The Grinnell High School Cheer/Dance Stunt Team are, from left: Will Dahlby Albright, Haley Moyer and Justin Durr. They finished second, the highest placing at any event at the state level.  The Grinnell High School Cheer/Dance Team coaching staff are, from left: Marissa Pronschinske, Sarah Dahlby Albright and Jordyn Moyes.
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