The sisterhood. The competition. The outfits.
The benefits of being on drill team are multifold, but are hard won by the 28 girls who take part in one of Edmonds-Woodway High School’s most expensive and labor-intense competitive teams. The hard work is worth the rewards, they say.
Drill is a group precision dance that’s militaristic in style, with an artsy flair. Rows of dancers do identical moves – arm spikes, kneeling, twists – to music while girls in other rows contrast with precise dance moves of their own.
Student co-captain Katy Creeley admits that at first she was drawn in by the uniforms. (This year, it’s fitted black long pants and a top with a snazzy purple criss-cross design.)
But when Creeley saw the team perform, that’s when she knew she had to try out. Joining the team meant getting 27 other sisters, she said.
“It’s a family,” said student co-captain Lindsey Stoneman.
The team draws girls from across the spectrum – those who’ve danced since the age of 3 and those who’ve never danced, said coach Deb Johnson. Drill fills a unique niche at school – for dancers and other girls who want to be on a competitive team, but don’t have an interest in football, she said.
The practices these days are focused on making routines harder, to improve scores. Johnson said the team hasn’t yet qualified for the state competition but is attending multiple competitions to do so.
The girls are really hoping to make it to state this year, Creeley said.
“It’s a three-day weekend trip, and it’s immensely bonding,” she said. “It’s one of my favorite parts of being on drill.”
The team also performs at school assemblies and football and basketball games. Their “pom” performances feature cheerleader-like outfits, pom poms and a more dance-like style than drill.
But the team takes work, and not just at practices.
It costs about $1,500 per student to participate, but the school’s ASB only provides $800 to $1,000 for the year for the whole team, Johnson said.
The uniforms are expensive and fitted, so can’t be passed down. It’s not unusual to have to refit the uniforms during the course of the year.
The year-round schedule and multiple competitions are pricey, and the team pays for its own bus to go to competitions.
The girls on the team spend hours at fundraisers and selling concessions at night games. Students earn credit for working fundraisers, and scholarships help low-income students. Some girls work part-time jobs to pay their share.
Those time commitments are added on to the year-round practice schedule.
Right now, students practice four days a week, two hours a day.
Parent Linda Cadigan has spent about $600 or $700 on drill this year for her daughter and many hours and weekends transporting her and attending events. But she said the team is immensely important to her daughter, Danielle Cadigan.
“It provides a positive identity in high school, where she belongs to something bigger than herself,” she said. “It’s not sacrifice, it’s surrender – you realize your child’s forming so much at this age it’s worth deferring personal activities.”
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