Novi Pompon Team Wins 2nd at High Kick Competition

The Novi High School Varsity Pompon Team earned second place in its division at the 22nd Annual Hip Hop & High Kick Championship on Sunday at Saginaw Valley State University. The competition was presented by Mid American Pompon.

The team placed second in the Large Varsity High Kick category. Their routine theme was synchronized swimming. The 23 member team is coached by Maria Hernandez and is comprised of the following girls: Captains Kailey Oppat and Delaney Ulle, Mackenzie Betts, Yianna Bordeau, Bailey Borycki, Michela Brant, Amy Cao, Madison Cojei, Karla DeLaCruz, Lauren DiPaola, Kelly Dubay, Olivia Ghannam, Lexa Giragosian, Mia Gurizzian, Bailee Kiel, Kaitlyn Kotcher, Angela Lazzara, Jessica Leone, Amy Liang, Chandler Link, Morgan Shepherd, Emma Weil and Renee Weil.

Middle school, high school and collegiate pompon and dance teams from across Michigan competed in various categories throughout the day. These included Collegiate Hip Hop; Varsity and Junior Varsity Hip Hop; Middle School and Junior Varsity High Kick; Small, Medium and Large Varsity High Kick and Collegiate High Kick. Teams were scored in areas including showmanship, formations and transitions, unique choreography, music incorporation, team precision, form and height of kicks, and overall performance.

The teams are currently preparing for one of the regional competitions that will be held at Saginaw Heritage High School on Jan. 19, Ann Arbor Skyline High School on Jan. 26, and Livonia Churchill High School on Jan. 27. At regionals, all teams will be competing to qualifying for the state competition at Eastern Michigan University on Feb. 10.

Mid American Pompon was established in 1979 with the vision to develop pompon into a competitive sport and to create a specific routine style that would be unified throughout Michigan school pompon teams. Currently, more than 90 teams in Michigan have adapted the Mid American pom routine “style.” For more information, including scores and photos from the competition, please visit www.pompon.com.

—The above information was provided in a press release.