The Cannon Falls Bomber Dance Team has started its season with a preview show for its home crowd. After spending weeks preparing, learning their dances, boosting their endurance, and growing together as a team. The team was finally ready to display their season dances on their home floor. The gym was packed with Bomber fans, as well as Lake City fans and Concordia Academy fans who were also revealing their dances that day. The start of a fresh new season has started and the dancers are eager for many wins to come their way. Captains Aviah Wells and Abby Sjoblom, along with 7th grader Caroline Sjoquist discussed what they want out of this season.
Senior Abby Sjoblom was not able to participate last year due to a torn ACL that occurred during her fall sport. Hoping for a big comeback, Sjoblom has shown her coaches and team that she is ready for whatever comes in her way. Not only getting voted team captain by her teammates and coaches, but also dancing both jazz and kick, even after a year off. Sjoblom emphasized that she is looking forward to performing her kick dance and seeing how scores look throughout the season. The team’s kick dance is very different from what it was years past, with it being a darker, creepier theme. Sjoblom explains that they are hoping for a positive outcome in the sections to advance to the state tournament. Lastly, Sjoblom explained that in order to reach their desired goals for the season, they have to work very hard in practice. She noted that a daily practice consists of “cleaning the dance and working out to increase their endurance to get through the dance.”
“A team goal I have for this season is to make it to state for both dances. A personal goal is to improve every day.” Junior, Aviah Wells stated. The team has been to the state for 24 consecutive years, and they hope to keep to streak going. But it’s not easy, at the section tournament, it’s always between Zumbrota Mazeppa, Lake City, Wabasha Kellogg, and Cannon Falls. But the thing is, only 3 of them can go per style of dance. Last season, the team graduated 7 seniors, and that was quite a challenge the team had to conquer. Wells explained that the thing that helped her most get back into the groove was simply getting back into the gym with her teammates and reconnecting. Wells emphasized, “I’m looking forward to making new memories with this team, and I’m looking forward to starting to compete again.”
Lastly, we spoke to 7th grader Caroline Sjoquist. Sjoquist is one of the first 7th graders to make it on varsity as a 7th grader, in both kick and jazz. While being a 7th grader on a team with mostly upperclassmen, Sjoquist explained her favorite thing about dance team so far is “Being with the older girls and making the new friendships I will have throughout the season.” She also explained that she is looking forward to team bonding with the other dancers and growing together. Being a 7th grader in varsity is not easy. Dancing next to other athletes who are very experienced and having to hold yourself to those expectations. Sjoquist emphasized that her personal goals for the season are to make the team better with the little things I can do, and also to make me a better teammate.
The Bomber dance team had, without a doubt, had a strong start to their season. They have shown themselves and one another that the hard work they are putting in each day at practice is paying off. They are going to continue to improve each day and are looking forward to their next performance on their home floor on Saturday, December 6th.
