Penn State Lionettes To Attend Nationals

By Jessica Wabara
Collegian Online

Friends and families of the Lionettes filled the stands of the White Building's gym Sunday afternoon to show their support for the dance team before they leave for a national competition.

The dancers will depart April 6 for Daytona Beach, Fla., to compete in the National Dance Alliance Collegiate Competition. The Lionettes will compete in the preliminary rounds April 8, and if they rank high enough, they'll proceed to the final round on April 9.

Last year, the girls placed fourth at the competition.

"I think the Lionettes are an awesome dance team," audience member Rene Garcia (sophomore-forensic science) said. "They put a lot of work into their dance routines, and they deserve to win."

Dressed in black-and-violet outfits covered in glitter, the girls entertained the crowd with jumps, twirls and flips in an energy-filled routine.

Kneeling down and cheering on the dancers was the Lionettes' national captain, Nicole Bautz (senior-crime, law and justice).

While the girls prepare for national competition, Bautz is in charge of costumes, make-up and making sure the performance is ready for competition.

"It's been a long, bumpy ride, so I'm excited to see it on the dance floor in Florida," Bautz said.

After their performance, the team captains, Alexandra Costello (senior-health policy and administration), Erin Zoch (senior-kinesiology) and JoAnn Esposito (senior-finance), told the crowd that they appreciated its love and support.

Sue Sherburne, the team's adviser for 12 years, ended the event by promising the audience that the team will rank at least fifth.

Unlike the other teams at the competition, the Lionettes will be the only team without a coach. Zoch explained that because the team has no coach, each of the girls has to push herself and her teammates.

"We like to look at what we have," Sherburne said, "rather than what we don't have."