A long year of training will be soon paying off for the Bonney Lake and Sumner high school drill teams.

After the District III qualifiers on Feb. 7, both teams will be competing in the state drill competition at the end of the month.

The teams will be traveling to the SunDome in Yakima to compete on March 27.

Bonney Lake

The Pantherettes qualified to compete at state in three different routines this year; pom, military and dance.

“Pom and military are their two strengths,” coach Lisa O’Brien said. “They just started competing in the dance category a couple of years ago.”

The Pantherettes’ military routine was themed around superheroes, complete with eye masks, and their dance number was jazz-styled.

In the pom category, the Pantherettes’ scored 225.70 points of a possible total of 300. This score earned the team an “excellent” rating.

Teams need at least 210 points to qualify for state.

Their military routine fared better with a score of 245, which earned the team an “exceptional” rating.

The dance routine received a score of 218.70, another “excellent” rating.

“I think the Pantherettes did great,” O’Brien said. “Their scores have improved overall and we are looking forward to state.”

Last year, the Pantherettes (combined with the Spartans) were the District III champions, placing first in pom and military.

Two years ago, the Pantherettes also went to nationals and received second place with both their pom and military routines.

Sumner

In the past, Bonney Lake and Sumner high schools have combined their dance teams for shows and competitions. Because both schools joined the 3A South Puget Sound League, though, they had to split and Sumner became its own team.

“We’ve had a very successful year,” said coach Stacia Dorman. “We’ve attended five competitions, have taken first place already for our show routine in a regional competition and first place at districts in the show category as well.”

All three of Sumner’s routines – show, hip-hop and military – qualified for state.

The Spartans’ show routines was themed around the board game Monopoly, and the routine received a score of 224.

Their hip-hop routine earned a score of 220.

Finally, their military routine, with them dressed and made-up in army fatigue and face paint, received a score of 232.

“They’ve so far exceeded my expectations going into the year,” Dorman said. “I wasn’t anticipating their any of their accomplishments being a first year team. Taking first place at districts was beyond my dreams, and I’m proud of all the girls.”

Reach Ray Still at rstill@courierherald.com or 360-825-2555 ext. 5058. Follow him on Twitter @rayscottstill for more news, pictures and local events.