BY DANI TIETZ
dani@sjodaily.com
The Oakwood High School dance team is realistic.
They know that right now they need to recruit new dancers, learn new dance moves and perfect their routines.
Their dream at this point is not to win a state championship, but to just compete in dance events throughout the winter months and end their season in the IHSA tournament.
So getting to march onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium to dance with the Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders on Dec. 1 wasn’t even something they dreamed about.
And yet, their determination landed four of the Comettes there.
Sophomore Carly Reitz and junior Lilly White attended dance camp at the University of Illinois during the summer of 2019 to learn techniques and fundamentals of dance.
“They danced 12 hours a day and performed routines that were judged for deliverance,” head coach Michele White said.
“After we returned from camp, I received a phone call giving them praise for their participation and skills already, and how they were kind, caring and uplifting to the other teams.”
The girls’ work ethic earned the entire Oakwood dance team the opportunity to perform with other dancers during the Indianapolis Colts game.
Due to illnesses and family vacations, the entire team was not able to attend, though. White’s family was on a cruise.
But Katelynn Juvinall, Kaelyn Miller, Carly Reitz and Halley Woods went to represent the Comets.
Prior to arriving in Indianapolis, schools were sent a video, music and instructions through Cheer America, who partnered with the Colts for the first-time event.
Arriving by 8 a.m. eastern time, the Comettes took the field at 8:15 for a two-hour practice. After a short break, they were back on the field again before meeting the Colts cheerleaders, and getting autographs.
They also learned that the Colts cheerleaders would be performing with them.
“It was a nice surprise for all,” Michele White said.
The girls said that because the team does not yet compete, the experience gave them a taste of what they so desperately want to do.
“We got to kind of experience all of (competition), got the feel of what it would be like, got some awards and stuff, got biggest workout ever and we got to meet a lot of other people from different schools around the state,” Reitz said.
Miller and Juvinall said that as freshmen, the “big stage” was scary, but exciting.
“I was really scared because there were a lot of people,” Juvinall said. “And then there were a couple moves that we did differently (at practice) and then we just had to try and fix before we get on (the field). It was good that we had extra hours of practice to do it.”
Miller said that although there were tens-of-thousands of more people watching their performance than at the Oakwood games, she knew that not everyone could actually see her, so that helped calm her nerves a little bit.
“I was just like, looking around and you could tell that they couldn’t see who was on the field because of how high up they were,” Miller said.
“And so I’m like, ‘Oh, this isn’t that bad. It’s kind of like competition.’”
Reitz, though, felt like she was on cloud nine.
She thought, “I could get used to this.”
Along with the Oakwood boys’ basketball team, the Comettes will perform at home tonight during half-time of the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-
To challenge themselves, the Comettes learn a new two-minute routine for every home competition.
The girls want the Oakwood community to know that they, like other Oakwood High School teams, work really hard.
Many times, like this week, they have a Friday night game, then a Tuesday night game to prepare for. Within that time, they will work to perfect a new routine for their community.
“I really want people to understand how difficult that is,” Reitz said.
“We do something different every time. We never repeat anything unless it’s for a different occasion, and that’s rare.”
The Comettes lone senior, Halley Woods, will not take the court with them during basketball season because she will graduate at midterm.
The remaining dancers will continue to build on what they have already started.
White said that first and foremost, she expects the dancers to get good grades. Then, she just wants them to participate in dance because they love it.
“When you love something you have no problem putting in the work, time and effort to make it amazing,” she said.
“I have loved every moment with this team,” she continued. “I love the fact that they are bonding and becoming friends. I also love the fact that my older girls have taken these freshman and, for the most part, made them part of their team.”
White said that the girls do joke around with each other, but they have their sights set on making the community proud.
“We can only hope to grow and become something that can stay at the high school for many years to come,” White said. “It has brought me much joy seeing the staff, students, and the community encouraging the girls and giving them some great feedback on their performances.
“The goal is to never give up, keep pushing and become as great as you can.”
Michele White said that the dance team is hopeful that they will be able to compete next season. Currently, they are working to fundraise to make that happen.
“This journey has all been worth it, and taking the baby steps to get this rolling has been a great learning process,” she said.
