Poms place at county competition for first time in 16 years

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Catherisa Apostol

Poms look fierce as they perform for the judges.

Poms performed at counties at Montgomery Blair High School on February 13, placing third overall in the competition. The girls worked hard and performed a spectacular routine that impressed the judges and got the crowd on their feet.

They worked long and hard in order to produce this year’s routine. “There have been so many times where we’ve been tired, and we all [thought] that we [weren’t] gonna place, and placing just made everything worth it,” junior Kendrah Nolasco said.

All the practice that the girls had to endure paid off because the team ended up winning the second place captain’s award and third place overall.

“I feel like we performed to our best ability. We worked for the past nine months to get to where we are,” sophomore Sakeenah Nasser said. “We worked so hard to get that place. I don’t think anyone understands. There were so many times when we wanted to give up…but in the end we just brushed that off our shoulders.”

The girls are especially proud of themselves because this is the first time in 16 years that Watkins Mill has placed at counties. “It was so amazing to hear Watkins Mill poms be called for third place. We have not placed in counties since 2000, so that was just so amazing to hear,” sophomore Bridget Mundy said.

Doors opened at 9am and everyone waited in anticipation for the competition to start. The gym was filled with fans who came out to support their team.

Watkins Mill’s Orange Nation came out to cheer the girls on. The crowd consisted of family members, friends, and all Wolverines alike. “I think [the support] is probably the best part about [the competition]…it was amazing because you can hear everybody yelling…[the cheering] definitely boosts your confidence as you’re performing,” Nolasco said.

Senior Sandra Bazubwabo has enjoyed her last year as a pom, and is definitely going to miss performing with the girls next year.  But she is sure they will do well and be better than ever. “We’re together for so long during the year, and we all get so close. It’s going to be really hard to not be performing with everybody,” Bazubwabo added.

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