Just add Music: Comet Pom Squad working to get in sync for state competition

By John Burbridge, sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Gene Hackman’s fictional basketball coach in the movie “Hoosiers” initially caused a stir among townsfolk when they found out he was conducting drills without the ball.

If you walked in during the early stages of a Charles City Pom Squad practice, you may be shocked that the team dances without music.

“We’ve got to get down the counts first,” Pom Squad head coach Keisha Cunnings said. “When we finally get that down, then we add the music.”

The music the squad will be adding to its routine at the Iowa State Dance Competition this Friday at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines is the Jonas Brothers 2013 pop hit “Pom Poms”.

“It’s only going to be for two minutes,” said Charles City senior Hanna Menken, who co-captains the squad with Tauna Mayhorn. “It’s a long drive just to perform for two minutes … and that’s all we got in our (Pom Poms) division. That’s why we’re working so hard to get it right.”

Last year Charles City compete at the state tournament and finished sixth out of 12 teams in its division. This will be the squad’s second appearance.

“This school has only had a dance team since 2014, and that first season was just a partial season,” said Cunnings, who clarified that dance and pom poms are usually considered synonymous. “Yeah, there was always cheerleading, but no dance.”

Three years ago a group of girls decided it was about time the school had a pom/dance team.

“They mainly started it among themselves, but then they asked me if I was interested in being their coach,” said Cunnings, who works at the school as a teacher’s aide. “I agreed. So we approached (Charles City activities director) Todd Forsyth for his approval, and he helped set things up.”

Though the Charles City team will only compete in one event, the dancers plan to watch other competitions including those involving college dance teams.

“In the future, we may enter in other competitions at the state tournament,” Cunnings said. “Right now, with this being only our third season, we’ll stick with one.”

For Menken, as well as Charles City pom/dance team members, this is there only school “sport”.

“I consider this a sport,” said Menken, who has been taking dance lessons for 13 years . “We put in a lot of work like the other athletes.”

“We also hold our girls to the same grade standards,” Cunnings said.

The Charles City Pom Squad is due to give halftime performances during eight Comet home basketball games.

“It’s going to be something different every time,” said Menken, who is trained in tap, jazz, ballet and lyrical dance. “Our last performance is going to be our biggest.”

In contrast to the aforementioned “Hoosier” basketball team that practiced without the ball, the CC Pom Squad’s final performance will involve basketballs.

“We’re going to be dancing with basketballs,” Menken said. “We’re still working on the details, but that’s the plan.”