Competitive Dance

Meet the IHSA State-bound Streatorettes and Pirate Poms

The IHSA State-qualifying Pirate Poms include (left to right): in front - Maggie Stisser, Whitney Stone, Amelia DeBernardi, Tres Guerrero, Hannah Larsen; second row - Melanie Stisser, Kierstin Burke, Emmalee Hill, Hailey Nelson, Cabella DeBernardi; third row - Sophie Fernandez, Mia Abernathy, Caroline Cooney, Melanie Kaminski, Lilly Samolitis; and in back - Raygan Hatfill, Macie Hart, Maddie Kerestes, Sienna Banushi and Natalie Dyche.

The IHSA State-qualifying Pirate Poms include (left to right): in front - Maggie Stisser, Whitney Stone, Amelia DeBernardi, Tres Guerrero, Hannah Larsen; second row - Melanie Stisser, Kierstin Burke, Emmalee Hill, Hailey Nelson, Cabella DeBernardi; third row - Sophie Fernandez, Mia Abernathy, Caroline Cooney, Melanie Kaminski, Lilly Samolitis; and in back - Raygan Hatfill, Macie Hart, Maddie Kerestes, Sienna Banushi and Natalie Dyche.

By J.T. Pedelty

With top six performances in their respective classes at last weekend’s Fieldcrest Sectional in Minonk, the Ottawa Pirate Poms and Streator Streatorettes have qualified for the IHSA state meet in competitive dance Friday and Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

The Streatorettes, competing in Class 1A, are scheduled to perform at 10:47 a.m. Friday.

The IHSA State-qualifying Streatorettes include (left to right): in front - Olivia Pastirik, Addi Ramon; second row - Kylie Coley, Josie Sliker, Kate Coley; third row - Emma Devera, Mireyah Ramirez, Lexi Patterson, Madyson Proud; back row - head coach Tiffany Condon, Ella Park, Sarah Melvin, Brooklyn Stillwell, Malana Clift and assistant coach Payton Scott.

The IHSA state-qualifying Streatorettes include (front row, from left) Olivia Pastirik, Addi Ramon, (second row) Kylie Coley, Josie Sliker, Kate Coley, (third row) Emma Devera, Mireyah Ramirez, Lexi Patterson, Madyson Proud, (back row) head coach Tiffany Condon, Ella Park, Sarah Melvin, Brooklyn Stillwell, Malana Clift and assistant coach Payton Scott.

The Pirate Poms, performing in Class 2A, are slated to perform at 2:13 p.m.

The IHSA State-qualifying Pirate Poms include (left to right): in front - Maggie Stisser, Whitney Stone, Amelia DeBernardi, Tres Guerrero, Hannah Larsen; second row - Melanie Stisser, Kierstin Burke, Emmalee Hill, Hailey Nelson, Cabella DeBernardi; third row - Sophie Fernandez, Mia Abernathy, Caroline Cooney, Melanie Kaminski, Lilly Samolitis; and in back - Raygan Hatfill, Macie Hart, Maddie Kerestes, Sienna Banushi and Natalie Dyche.

The IHSA state-qualifying Pirate Poms include (from left, front row) Maggie Stisser, Whitney Stone, Amelia DeBernardi, Tres Guerrero, Hannah Larsen, (second row) Melanie Stisser, Kierstin Burke, Emmalee Hill, Hailey Nelson, Cabella DeBernardi, (third row) Sophie Fernandez, Mia Abernathy, Caroline Cooney, Melanie Kaminski, Lilly Samolitis, (back row) Raygan Hatfill, Macie Hart, Maddie Kerestes, Sienna Banushi and Natalie Dyche.

The top teams in each class Friday will return to Grossinger Motors Arena for Saturday’s final round.



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J.T. Pedelty

J.T. Pedelty

J.T. is a graduate of Streator High School, Illinois Valley Community College and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale who is some 26 years into an award-winning sports journalism career and serves as a regional sports editor for Shaw Local Media and Friday Night Drive.