(SPS) -- The members of the Sapulpa High School Ping-Ping Dance Team are no strangers to state competitions! And the reigning champions are stepping their way to state to defend their titles later this month.
The Oklahoma State Dance Team Directors Association (OSDTDA) will hold its state competition at Cox Convention Center in Tulsa on December 17 and 18.
The Pings qualified for a number of events following November state qualifier performances in Norman, including the Large Senior Ensemble (Pearl Smith, Jaselyn Rossman, Brooklyn Berry, Ryann Hoey, Kiley Sontag, Brooklin Latham, and Maddie Craig); team kick and mix dances, and solos for Maddie Craig and Ryann Hoey.
In addition, Ryann Hoey, Jaselyn Rossman, Brooklyn Berry, Maddie Craig and Pearl Smith each earned OSDTDA All-State Honors. Avery Kennedy received east region recognition.
The Pings put in some serious practice time, arriving every day before school around 6:30 a.m. to perfect their dances for about two hours.
"We really have to help each other to become something to win state," said senior co-captain Ryann Hoey.
It's all about attitude, said senior co-captain Maddie Craig.
"The most special thing about this group is the work ethic we all share," said Craig. "We come in every day with a good mindset to get better and work together as a team and win state titles, together."
"We really depend on each other and support each other in fields other than dance," said Hoey. "It's a community-- that can't be broken."
Senior captain Brookyn Berry says the Pings are family.
"We go through everything together, we cry-- we sweat," said Berry. "We're always so close, honestly a second family to me."
The Pings have been named team state champions in 5A Kick and 5A Mix an astounding eight years in a row. This year's state competition in front of a live audience will look a little different than 2020, when championship routines were performed virtually.
In fact, the Pings will join the Bixby Dance team for a "State Showoff" performance open to the public prior to the competition. Both teams will perform routines in preparation for the state competition.
The State Showoff will be held at Bixby High School Whitey Ford Gym on Sunday, December 12, at 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.
The Pings have nabbed titles at additional competitions this fall. At the TSF competition in October, they took first place for Large Senior Ensemble and 2nd and 4th place, respectively, for soloists Brooklyn Berry and Pearl Smith.
At the Dance Team Union regionals, they won first place for Team Performance- Mix, setting them up to compete at nationals.
Take state, Pings!
Related stories:
Sapulpa Ping Pings Win State Championships
Sapulpa Ping Pings Win National Championship
Sapulpa Ping Pings Celebrate 50 Years
What does it take to be a champion? Hear the Pings describe their early-morning practice, their Ping family and determination necessary to win titles:
