Ottawa, Seneca competitive teams dance their way to IHSA State

A trio of area high school competitive dance teams have qualified for state competitions — two of them to both the Illinois High School Association [IHSA] State Meet and the Illinois Drill Team Association [IDTA] State Finals.

Seneca in Class 1A and Ottawa in Class 2A both punched their tickets in the IHSA’s virtual Washington Sectional, contested via video submissions this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Seneca scored a 77.70 to finish fifth in 1A. The Ottawa Pirate Poms earned sixth place in 2A with a score of 80.70.

Fieldcrest [76.07], the Streatorettes [72.07] and La Salle-Peru [65.53] also were placed in the Washington Sectional, with Fieldcrest seventh in 1A, Streator 10th in 1A and L-P 12th in 2A.

At the Sycamore Sectional, Somonauk [69.90] competed but did not earn an IHSA State berth, finishing 10th.

Ottawa, Seneca and Streator are also all scheduled to take part in the IDTA State Finals — the Pirate Poms in AAA Jazz, the Fighting Irish Dance Team in A Lyrical and the Streatorettes in AA Jazz.