Badgerettes bring home first trophy
—Photo by MIKE WELAND<br>The Bonners Ferry dance team (all in Badger blue), the Badgerettes; back row (l-r) Coach Melanie Schriener and manager Casey Hampton; second row, Amanda Hittle, Hayley Olson, Katie Ryan, Brooke Drapeau, Sasho Kerri, Samarra Hardinger; front row, Arlaina Siver, Emily Sukenik, Devon Huggins and Larkin Guase. The young women not in uniform are Kinsey Unruh (left) and the inimitable kindergartner Maggie Pluid (right), who serve both as assistants, mascots, and yes … cheerleaders for the Badgerettes.
By Mike Weland
For the Herald
The Bonners Ferry High School dance team, the Badgerettes (not to be confused with cheerleaders), traveled to Post Falls on Saturday in their first competitive attempt, and brought home a second place trophy, the first piece of hardware the team has added to the Badger hall of honor.
Intricate choreography, stepped off with poise, style and grace in time to a solid backbeat of music defines what these Badger girls do as they display their talent in quick routines between Badger games, during half-time shows and at other high school events. Although they use pom-poms, they don't lead cheers, yet they're often confused with their better known peers … the cheerleaders.
Coach Melanie Schreiner leads this first rambunctious and talented group of young Badgerette dancers through their rhythmic paces, incorporating not only the swaying steps and convoluted moves, but the personalities and abilities of each of the dancers as well. Thus, giving each the ability to find expression in movement while melding into a complicated synchronicity.
With their first competition concluded so successfully, these dancers are unanimous in agreeing that their first trophy will soon be joined by many more. These girls are working hard to found a new tradition at Bonners Ferry High School.