The San Benito High School Belles are seen inside the SBHS gymnasium Friday with the trophy and prizes they earned at a recent competition. (Staff photo by Michael Rodriguez)
By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Considering that the San Benito High School Belles are already in possession of enough hardware to stock two trophy rooms, it should come as no surprise that the varsity drill team returned from the 2013 MA Regional Dance Competition in much the same manner that they had departed for the tournament: as the absolute best.
The Belles have shiny new trophies to prove it as they received super sweepstakes, best choreography, best technique and the coveted high point award at the competition, which was held March 2 at Carroll High School in Corpus Christi. It was a showing that culminated an already impressive 2012-2013 year for the Belles, of which there are 19 girls on the squad who competed in the jazz, hip hop and novelty routines at the competition.
Belles sponsor Kimberly Banda attributed the squad’s success to three main ingredients, hard work, determination and dedication. “The girls worked really hard there,” Banda said of the Belles’ performance at MA Regional. “They were determined and dedicated; they had to make extra time after school to practice for this event.”
Banda also said that the Belles scored a 90 or better in every routine at the competition, but winning the biggest accolade, the high point award, might have been the sweetest accomplishment for the team. “The high point award is the highest award that you can get for the competition for all the routines,” Banda said.
Belle officers Monica Garcia, 17, and Danielle Barrera, 15, were proud of the group’s feat.
“I think it’s awesome,” said Barrera, who Banda said is the Belles’ first 15-year-old captain. “It’s my first time here, and coming home with a trophy and seeing their (fellow dancers’) smiles makes me feel so good that we can do this.”
Garcia, a junior, said, “I actually feel proud of the girls because we got to bring something home. We experienced it last year, so I’m proud of it and very happy.”
When asked what makes the Belles so successful, Garcia elaborated, “In every routine, we have this thing that we fight for – we fight for the front position. So in every routine we go full out, and that’s the point of the music is to give 100 percent.”
According to Banda, MA Regional was the last major dance competition the Belles will compete until tryouts begin for next year’s squad.
Read this story in the March 13 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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