West Majorettes exult in national title
34-member team wins 2007 Championship Dance Nationals in Orlando, Fla.
By BECKY SHAY
Of The Gazette Staff
The West High Majorettes kicked up a national championship homecoming Saturday.
The 34-member Majorettes won the 2007 Championship Dance Nationals last week in Orlando, Fla. Their performance this weekend came in front of a packed house at MetraPark Arena as their own Golden Bears battled with the Butte Bulldogs to claim a state boys' basketball championship.
The Majorettes smiled throughout their performance but there were a few tears afterward. For the seniors, it was their last chance to raise their batons and flags as a Majorette.
"It's very bittersweet," Katie Nearpass said.
"Extra on the bitter," Kate Coburn added.
However, the girls weren't focused on the end of the season as much as still trying to grasp their championship. The trophy they brought home is nearly as large as most of them are tall.
"It's amazing," Nearpass said of the championship. "It makes all the hard work feel like it's paid off."
"It's been such a great experience," Coburn said.
Chelsey Barth said it hit her when she made a call to former coaches Charlie and Betty Nesbit to tell them about the championship.
"It hit me when I called Mr. Nesbit on the bus and he cried," she said.
To earn their championship, the Majorettes went up against teams from huge schools across the nation. They competed in kick show, pompons and prop show routines.
Head Coach Vickie Schultz said one of the things that separated Billings from the other teams was the nearly militaristic approach. While many teams go on the floor and dance, the Majorettes are all uniform with sharp lines and accuracy.
That precision comes from hard work. Schultz and Assistant Coach Tina Keller have put them through the paces since August. The teams practiced Monday through Friday from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and added Monday evenings and Saturday mornings as the national competition got closer.
"It takes a lot of dedication," Schultz said.
That dedication showed in Florida. Coburn said once the Majorettes got into the intensive, daylong competition, they knew they had a shot at the championship.
"Everyone's dream is to win," she said and grinned. "We did."
Keller, who is also the team photographer, was front and center as the awards were announced.
"They were very, very excited young ladies," she said. "I think they were beside themselves."
Keller said she turned to Schultz and said, "I knew we could do it."
"We have some good, hardworking girls here. That's all it takes, persistence will pay off. They did a wonderful job."
Schultz said community support, especially from sponsors, helped make the championship possible. The "total bill to get there" was $50,000, Schultz said. The girls worked hard to earn that money since last July.
"Without those sponsors this probably wouldn't have been possible," she said.
This year's senior Majorettes have been through transitions like no others in the team's history. They trained with the Nesbits, who were the Majorettes' only coaches for 44 years until retiring in 2004; then with Stacy Meyer and Laura Scheetz, coaches before Schultz and Keller took over.
Schultz, who was a Majorette back in the day and coached at Senior, said she jumped at the chance to coach the team.
"It's really neat to go back and be a part of that group again," Schultz said. "It is something I treasure and remember from high school."
"I do enjoy working with the girls," Schultz said. "They just received me so well, brought me in under their wings."
Both coaches and the girls said the fellowship this year's Majorettes shared and the teamwork they dedicated themselves to is part and parcel of their championship. Schultz said she was probably most proud of how the girls represented Billings and West at the competition.
"They are true young ladies," she said. "They just have a lot of class."
Contact Becky Shay at [email protected] or 657-1231.
34-member team wins 2007 Championship Dance Nationals in Orlando, Fla.
By BECKY SHAY
Of The Gazette Staff
The West High Majorettes kicked up a national championship homecoming Saturday.
The 34-member Majorettes won the 2007 Championship Dance Nationals last week in Orlando, Fla. Their performance this weekend came in front of a packed house at MetraPark Arena as their own Golden Bears battled with the Butte Bulldogs to claim a state boys' basketball championship.
The Majorettes smiled throughout their performance but there were a few tears afterward. For the seniors, it was their last chance to raise their batons and flags as a Majorette.
"It's very bittersweet," Katie Nearpass said.
"Extra on the bitter," Kate Coburn added.
However, the girls weren't focused on the end of the season as much as still trying to grasp their championship. The trophy they brought home is nearly as large as most of them are tall.
"It's amazing," Nearpass said of the championship. "It makes all the hard work feel like it's paid off."
"It's been such a great experience," Coburn said.
Chelsey Barth said it hit her when she made a call to former coaches Charlie and Betty Nesbit to tell them about the championship.
"It hit me when I called Mr. Nesbit on the bus and he cried," she said.
To earn their championship, the Majorettes went up against teams from huge schools across the nation. They competed in kick show, pompons and prop show routines.
Head Coach Vickie Schultz said one of the things that separated Billings from the other teams was the nearly militaristic approach. While many teams go on the floor and dance, the Majorettes are all uniform with sharp lines and accuracy.
That precision comes from hard work. Schultz and Assistant Coach Tina Keller have put them through the paces since August. The teams practiced Monday through Friday from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and added Monday evenings and Saturday mornings as the national competition got closer.
"It takes a lot of dedication," Schultz said.
That dedication showed in Florida. Coburn said once the Majorettes got into the intensive, daylong competition, they knew they had a shot at the championship.
"Everyone's dream is to win," she said and grinned. "We did."
Keller, who is also the team photographer, was front and center as the awards were announced.
"They were very, very excited young ladies," she said. "I think they were beside themselves."
Keller said she turned to Schultz and said, "I knew we could do it."
"We have some good, hardworking girls here. That's all it takes, persistence will pay off. They did a wonderful job."
Schultz said community support, especially from sponsors, helped make the championship possible. The "total bill to get there" was $50,000, Schultz said. The girls worked hard to earn that money since last July.
"Without those sponsors this probably wouldn't have been possible," she said.
This year's senior Majorettes have been through transitions like no others in the team's history. They trained with the Nesbits, who were the Majorettes' only coaches for 44 years until retiring in 2004; then with Stacy Meyer and Laura Scheetz, coaches before Schultz and Keller took over.
Schultz, who was a Majorette back in the day and coached at Senior, said she jumped at the chance to coach the team.
"It's really neat to go back and be a part of that group again," Schultz said. "It is something I treasure and remember from high school."
"I do enjoy working with the girls," Schultz said. "They just received me so well, brought me in under their wings."
Both coaches and the girls said the fellowship this year's Majorettes shared and the teamwork they dedicated themselves to is part and parcel of their championship. Schultz said she was probably most proud of how the girls represented Billings and West at the competition.
"They are true young ladies," she said. "They just have a lot of class."
Contact Becky Shay at [email protected] or 657-1231.
