Admirals national-bound
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State Champion Farragut High School dance team members, front row from left: coach Macy Brink, Emma Kate Kilpatrick, Sydney Derr, Natalie Mahoney, Cassidy Stickley, Mary Aspin Scott, Lydia Finnegan and assistant coach Victoria Norris. Back row, from left, Paisley van lant, Mary Ella Wendell, Caroline Seagraves, Sarah Shoup, Natalee Mack, Rylee Chronis and assistant coach Brenna Bocik. - Photo submitted
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State Champion Farragut Middle School dance team members are, front row from left: Francesca Wilson, Harper Mills, Shea Tafazzoli, Katie Beth Swaggerty, Emmaline Wendell and Lila Spencer. Middle row, from left: assistant coach Laura Warrington, Maddie Horton, Leighton Upshaw, Lillie Jones, Maddie Reed, Lily Tomiko, Ava Kate Taylor, Emery Campbell, sponsor Elizabeth Wilson; and back row from left, coach Macy Brink, Kennedy Prosan, Parker Miller, Layla Schaerer, Brooklyn Knight, Rylee Mack, Audrey McCaleb, Caitlyn Stickley, Sophie Pennekamp and assistant coach Brenna Bocik. - Photo submitted
Farragut Middle and High School dance teams once again are national-bound with their respective first-place wins in the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association competition held in the Knoxville Convention Center Friday, Nov. 7.
Each team won first place in jazz, and both were first runner up in pom, noted five-year coach Macy Brink, who has guided both teams to first-place state victories during her tenure.
“It really is a testament to the hard working girls we have on both teams, and how perfectly they execute,” Brink said during a telephone interview Sunday, Nov. 9.
“The girls are just incredible young women, who are not only amazing athletes,
but also exhibit humility, generosity and great support of one another,” she added. “I could not be more proud of them.”
Brink said the state wins “are just the first step in that journey to nationals,” which will take place in early February in Orlando, Florida.
FMS has won first place at nationals over the last four years while the high school team has been among the finalists, Brink said.
FMS’s Dance Team has one of its largest teams in recent memory, Brink said, with 21 members. They are: Kennedy Prosan, Parker Miller, Layla Schaerer, Brooklyn Knight, Rylee Mack, Audrey McCaleb, Caitlyn Stickley, Sophie Pennekamp, Maddie Horton, Leighton Upshaw, Lillie Jones, Maddie Reed, Lily Tomiko, Ava Kate Taylor, Emery Campbell, Francesca Wilson, Harper Mills, Shea Tafazzoli, Katie Beth Swaggerty, Emmaline Wendell and Lila Spencer.
“Even though it is a large team, they have really come together as they work toward the same goals,” Brink said. “It has really been a fun new and exciting challenge for all of us.”
FHS’s Dance team has 12 members: Paisley van lant, Mary Ella Wendell, Caroline Seagraves, Sarah Shoup, Natalee Mack, Rylee Chronis, Emma Kate Kilpatrick, Sydney Derr, Natalie Mahoney, Cassidy Stickley, Mary Aspin Scott and Lydia Finnegan.
Brink said she feels “very proud” to be part of a long tradition of Farragut’s outstanding dance team community.
“We have been able to build on the incredible foundation of Farragut’s dance team excellence we have been privileged to continue,” the University of Tennessee Dance Team alum and Denver, Colorado native said. She added she remained in Knoxville mainly because of her work with the Farragut dance teams. “This community is really something special, and all of the coaches are proud to be part of it.
“None of us would want to be anywhere but Farragut.”
