Cor Jesu Academy’s brand new and first-ever Charger Dance Team exceeded expectations this year at the Missouri Dance Team Association State Championship competition, held Feb. 24 in Kansas City, placing in both pom and lyrical jazz – the only two categories the team competed in.

The Chargers earned fifth place out of 11 teams in pom and third place out of five teams in lyrical jazz – an impressive feat on its own, especially after competing in only two regional competitions ever before competing in the state competition. Though the awards did not stop there – Cor Jesu also received recognition for earning the highest GPA – a nearly perfect 3.98 – in Division 3.

“It was great that we were able to not only do well with school, which is what our school is known for, but also get recognized for our dancing. I think that those combined made us really realize that we are a special team, and it’s really exciting,” co-captain junior Ava Fritz said.

“I’m super proud of them,” head coach Andrea Manfrede added. “Not only do they do well academically, but they also, besides doing the dance team, all are dancers within the area. And that takes a lot of time, a lot of dedication, a lot of time at their dance studios, hours and hours. So for them to keep up on their academics is something really special.”

Of the 11 members, there are six freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors and one senior: captain Emily Truitt. With both the season and school year ending, Truitt was asked to give a few last words of advice to her team.

“I would just say to take it all in and work hard,” she said. “Obviously, it’s not always going to be easy, there’s definitely hard work that goes into it, but take it all in, work your hardest and embrace all of it.”

Though the departure of Truitt will no doubt be hard, the team will be left in the capable hands of the two co-captains, Fritz and junior Maggie Kellogg, who are already planning how to continue to build the program.

“Our hope is that everybody has a great time and keeps up their positive attitudes,” Fritz said. “I know that that’s kind of what Emily preached throughout this year, to keep a positive attitude and stay very, very bright. Our school motto (is) ‘shine bright, be brilliant’ – I think we did that great this year. That would be one thing that I’d want to keep up with throughout the years.”