With music and poms, the OH Pantherettes show off their fantastic routines on the football field at Ken Pickerill Stadium during the Friday Night Lights home games.
“We practice for 10 hours plus in one day over the summer, training for our [dances] that we will perform,” said OH junior Alaina Bisgrove.
One goal of Pantherettes is to help pump up the crowd and support their OH junior varsity and varsity football teams. From jazz to hip-hop, “there are a lot of small details in [our dances] that really add to it, and the music is really fire,” said Bisgrove, with a smile from ear to ear.
Their routines are carefully choreographed to match their excitement for the game, and during these games, they help build teamwork and friendship among the dancers. The team spends countless hours rehearsing challenging routines, perfecting every motion and trick, and building confidence.
“The team has just gotten stronger [throughout the season],” said OH senior Captain Evie Lindahl.
Pantherettes coaches work closely with the team to improve technique, synchronization, and expression. Beyond practice, the dancers balance school work, Friday Night Lights performances, and continuous practices. It shows dedication and commitment to both their academics and their sports.
“Our readiness for the field, we took a lot of time this summer to prepare ourselves for our routines,” said OH Head Coach Hannah Hill.
The dancers prepare for Friday Night Lights throughout summer break, all the way until the last playoff game. From sweat and tears to beautiful dance moves, these Pantherettes show what it’s like to be a true Oswego Panther.
“We learn all of our routines in the summer and throughout the practice times throughout the season,” said Hill. “We go back to those routines that we learned for the week before the game, and we clean them and make sure they are ready for the field.”
The difficulty, careful consideration, and differences of these routines make all of them unique, as Hill noted, “we do a different performance at each [home] football game.”
Each week, the dancers prepare a unique performance that showcases different styles, themes, and music. It keeps fans engaged to see what’s next.
For seniors Evie Lindahl, Hailey Modaff, Ella Springsteen, Madie Chew, Austin Gajdos, Brielle Goehring, Lily Packley, Kylee Stocking, and Gabi Skital, Friday’s Crosstown football game was their last football performance with the Pantherettes.
Hello! My name is Madi Young! I am sports editor here at 42fifty! You can contact me by emailing 42fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
Hi! My name is Leah Fetro. I am a senior here at OH and it is my first year as a journalist with 42Fifty. I am excited to see what this year holds! You can contact me by emailing 42fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
