The Apollo E-gals dance team will compete in 2021 KHSAA State Dance Championship in the Pom Division today at George Rogers Clark in Winchester.
AHS coach Kacie Leachman said the mindset is simple going into the competition.
“We are just going to give it our all. It’s been a crazy year and we are just glad to be able to compete,” she said. “Obviously, we want to do well and push ourselves to the highest level of performance, but we are just happy to be able to have a crowd.”
Leachman said she’s been proud of her team for the way they’ve adapted this season as nearly all teams have had to make adjustments.
“We never know how the rules and regulations are going to be, so we have just had to prepare ourselves for all circumstances,” she said. “It gets kind of crazy at times but we just know to expect anything at this point. We practice hours and hours a week, late night practices. Those help our stamina to be able to power through a routine.”
Leachman said her message to her team during the performance is to focus on what’s happening and what’s coming next.
One aspect she’s tried to make them understand is that when they make a mistake, it’s important to move past in and not focus on the mistake. She said it’s all about them giving it their all.
When asked what she wants her squad to get out of state, Leachman said it’s all about the experience.
“Yes, winning is fun, but I want them to finish strong and at the end still love to dance,” she said. “If you create an atmosphere where all you care about is the win, win, win and the titles, the girls catch on and they just feel like little puppets. But if you create that fun but still goal driven environment, they’re going to get more out of it. Being able to travel and spend quality time, especially in a time where quality time with others is scarce, is what they’ll be able to cherish.”
Competing in state isn’t new for Apollo and Leachman said these are the competitions she focused on the most.
“For me, the regional and state competitions are the most important,” she said. “Those teams that you’re competing against, they know who you are. They know where you’re from. At a bigger competition, like Nationals, the teams from across the country don’t know who you are. They don’t know how you’ve done in past competitions. But the teams here, in the state, they do. They know their competition, and they can appreciate a good routine from a little team in Owensboro, Kentucky.”
