The Mattoon Junior Varsity Wavettes captured three first-place performances at the IDTA State Dance Competition on Saturday. Mattoon won every event it performed in and garnered the coveted highest point total for a JV dance squad with 256.9 points for their Pom routine.

The JV Wavettes won first in Pom, Jazz, and Lyrical/Contemporary.

The Mattoon Middle School dance squad took first in the Junior High Pom dance category while the Mattoon Varsity Wavettes placed second in AA Pom.

Prior to the awards ceremony, Charleston coach Mary Buchar was honored by the IDTA. The IDTA hall-of-famer and icon of high school dance in Illinois was recognized for her dedication to the sport and her work with the Trojets over her 34-year career as a dance coach for Charleston.

Her Trojets placed second in the the AA Kick dance.

Senior Trojet Hannah Taylor competed on the second day of the solo dances after qualifying among 44 dancers in the Friday prelims. “She’s the first dancer I’ve ever had who made it to the second day,” Buchar said.

Taylor placed sixth overall in state among the 15 qualifying dancers who competed Saturday.

Other notable dancers and teams qualified and competed at State:

  • Mattoon seniors Katie Clatfelter, Annalise Overmyer, and Justyce Prather as dance soloists
  • Charleston Middle School Little Trojets in the Junior High Pom Dance
  • Mattoon Middle School in Junior High Jazz
  • Charleston Trojets in AA Pom Dance
  • Mattoon Varsity in AA Jazz and Lyrical/Contemporary