Tech’s Senior dance team member Sarah Rose cheers on the men’s basketball team at the Hooper Eblen Center on Jan 31. Photo by Kendyl Seals.
Tech’s dance team improved 10 spots in this year’s national college competition at Disney World in Florida.
The team competed in the United Cheer Association and the United Dance Association on Jan. 17-21, and the team has competed in this competition for the past 10 years.
The 12-member team placed fifth in game-day this year, compared with last year’s 15th place finish in the pom category.
Game-day routines are three minutes and pom routines take two minutes.
Adding a new coach to the team makes this year different from previous seasons at Tech.
Graduate assistant Kelsea Giantonio from the University of Massachusetts is a new face to the team. This is her first time coaching the dance team, during her past two seasons at Tech.
“As a whole, I tell the team to dance as one person and not 12 separate members. I attribute synchronization to the team’s overall improvement,” Giantonio said.
The Golden Girls, also known as the GG’s, include seven underclassmen.
“Our only senior, Sarah Rose, truly sets the standard for the team by her hardworking attitude she is always doing things right no matter how hard,” Giantonio said.
Rose, an elementary education major, talked about the team’s ongoing success over the weekend, and how they brought everything to the mat.
“I am so proud of our team, and the way we have handled everything to the best of our ability this year. In the end, knowing how hard we worked all season long makes me happy,” she said.
“Coach Kelsea, inspires our team, and she means the world to us. She has her full heart into our team,” Rose said.
She said she hopes to see improvement to the team’s technique and overall skill level over the next few years.
“With new skills continuously appearing in dance, I also want the girls to learn and perfect new skills for their benefit next season,” Giantonio said.
“In the future, I want to look back on the team and see improvement. I have high hopes that will happen for the GGs,” Rose said.
