The field for the Class 1A Dance State Finals set, The state's top programs ready to showcase their talent

The JCA Angels perform at the state dance finals

Joliet Catholic Academy dance team competes during the preliminary round at the 2024 IHSA Competitive State Dance Finals. The Angels return to state this weekend for another shot at an elusive state crown.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

BLOOMINGTON — Thirty of Illinois’ top small-school dance programs will take center stage this Friday at Grossinger Motors Arena for the 2025 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Competitive Dance State Finals. These elite teams earned their spots through five sectionals held across the state, and they now set their sights on bringing back a state trophy to their school.

With high energy, intense competition, and a legacy of excellence on the line, the 2025 IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals promise to deliver another thrilling chapter in Illinois high school dance history.

The road to Bloomington was anything but easy, with each sectional producing standout performances. Jacksonville and Highland took home sectional titles at St. Anthony High School in Effingham, while Morris edged out Providence Catholic and Joliet Catholic Academy to claim top honors at the Mahomet-Seymour sectional. Evergreen Park narrowly defeated Nazareth Academy at Maine East, posting an 85.17 to Nazareth’s 84.33. Montini secured its ticket to state with a razor-thin .73-point victory over Sycamore at the Sycamore sectional.

Members of the Morris Varsity Poms perform their show routine at the 2024 state finals prelims on the way to a second place trophy a day later at Grossinger Motor Arena.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Familiar Faces Return to the Finals

Fans attending this weekend’s competition will recognize several programs from last year’s Class 1A state finals, as all ten 2024 finalists are back in the mix. The list includes defending champion Jacksonville, as well as Morris, Providence Catholic, Carmel, Nazareth Academy, Marion, Sycamore, Highland, Clinton, Glenbard South, and St. Viator.

Last year, Jacksonville dazzled the judges with an expressive lyrical routine in the finals, overcoming an initial third-place finish in the preliminary round to secure its second consecutive state title with a score of 90.70. Morris, which finished as runner-up (89.96), will be looking to close the gap this year, while Carmel (89.44), Joliet Catholic Academy (89.01), and Providence Catholic (88.52) round out last year’s top five.

Jacksonville Dance team performs at IHSA state

Dancers from Jacksonville perform during the Friday's prelim on last January. The J'ettes went on to win the Class 1A state title.

Jacksonville’s J’ettes return with hopes of making it three straight championships. Their winning performance last year, set to a lyrical routine in flowing light taupe dancewear, captivated judges with its artistry and emotional depth. Morris, known for its powerful, athletic modern dance style, will try to breakthrough after back-to-back runner-up finishes. Carmel, which wowed fans with an energetic modern dance routine from their 13-member troupe last year, also returns to contend for the title.

A High-Stakes Competition Awaits

With a field packed with talented, seasoned programs, this year’s finals promise to be as competitive as ever. While perennial powerhouses Jacksonville and Morris enter as favorites, teams such as Joliet Catholic Academy, Providence Catholic, and Nazareth Academy have worked hard to improve to improve their precision, musicality, and overall execution, to finish in one of the top three spots.

Event Schedule and Ticket Information

The Class 1A competition kicks off Friday morning, with doors opening at 9:15 a.m. The first performance is set for 10:15 a.m., with the final routine scheduled for 2:21 p.m. The top teams from the preliminary round will advance to Saturday’s finals, with finalists announced at 2:40 p.m.

Providence Catholic dancers execute a stunt in their preliminary round performance. The Dancing Celtic return the state finals looking to improve on their 5th place finish in 2024.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Fans eager to witness the state’s best high school dance teams in action can purchase tickets for $12 per person. Digital tickets are available for purchase online or by calling the City Box Office at 309-434-2777.

Attendees should be aware that Grossinger Motors Arena enforces a clear bag policy. All bags, purses, and personal items will be subject to search upon entry. If an item is prohibited or too large, guests must return it to their vehicle or surrender it at the entrance, as the venue does not provide storage for oversized items.

Jacksonville J'ettes win back-to-back state titles

Members of the Jacksonville High School dance team perform at the IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals on Friday. The J'ettes went on to win this year's state title beating squads from Morris, Highland and nine other teams that advanced to Day 2 competition.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

BLOOMINGTON - Jacksonville dance head coach Tiffany Hickox and her dance team have done it again. Outscoring the perennial small school dance powerhouse Morris by a mere five-hundredths of a point, the J'ettes took home their second-consecutive state dance title on Saturday after two days of competition at Grossinger Motors Arena.

Members of this year's championship troupe include Lauren Deen, Greta Bryson-Adams, Lily Hickox, Charlotte Brockhouse, Emma Wolters, Kylie Chumley, Hailey Weeks, Elizabeth Stremming, Samantha Lawson, Lindsey Hautala, Jacey Evans, and Kimmy Davis. The team is managed by Lily Rohlk and Marley VanAken.

Morris, who has finished runner-up six times and won one title in the past eight years prior to this weekend, could not sway the judges, earning yet another second-place state trophy, finishing with a score of 89.96.

Carmel High School (89.44) and Joliet Catholic Academy (89.01) finished third and fourth, respectively. Providence Catholic(88.52), who was in xplace after the first day of competition finished in x place. Marion (6th) and Highland (7th) round out the top seven places out of 30 dance programs, earning scores of 87.34 and 85.44 respectively.

This story was updated 1/29/25 with updated scores and standings. The original story inadvertenely used results from the previous year. We apologize for the error.

Prep Sports Notebook | Wednesday noteworthy tidbits

Urbana takes 6th place at Crimson Lady Invite

JACKSONVILLE - Four Urbana wrestlers performed well at Jacksonville High School's Crimson Lady Invite, earning a 6th place finish in the team standings with 74 points. Freshman Rickasia Ivy (140) and senior Jurdan Tyler (235) both received second-place medals, while junior Franciana Kalanga finished in 5th place in the 170-pound division. In the 130-pound division, classmate Randi Campe took sixth place.

Unity's Phoenix rises at Crimson Lady Invite

JACKSONVILLE - Phoenix Molina went undefeated, winning all three bouts to win the 235-pound title at Crimson Lady Invite Wednesday. After enjoying a first-round bye, Molina stuck Triad's Claire Boehne in 34 seconds. Her next two bouts went the distance. Next, the sophomore defeated Robinson's Rylee Hammond 2-0 in their quarterfinal match and won the championship title after a narrow 3-2 victory over Urbana's Jurdan Tyler.

Going 2-2 for the day, sophomore Anna Vasey finished 4th in the 155-pound weight class.

Rockets Claire Zorns (130) and Riley Petkus (140) also represented Unity at the 39-team wrestling meet but did not place.

Spartan girls take one on the chin at State Farm Holiday Classic

NORMAL - Addisyn Martinie mustered just seven points to lead St. Joseph-Ogden's scoring effort against Bishop McNamara on opening day at the State Farm Holiday Classic Wednesday. The Lady Irish's aggressive, full-court defense produced turnover after turnover that kept SJO out of sync.

While her defensive play rose to the occasion in the second half, senior Addison Seggebruch scored just five points. Addison Brooks came off the bench to score five points in the 50-18 loss. Meanwhile, Kayla Osterbur hit one of two free-throw attempts, rounding out SJO's scoring effort.

The Spartans advance to the consolation bracket at the tournament, playing Rockford Lutheran at 9:30 am on Thursday.

Unity 47 - Salt Fork 43

The Rockets balanced their record at six wins, six losses after beating Salt Fork at the Blue Devil Classic on Wednesday. Raegen Stringer led all scorers with 17 points. Reagan Little tallied 13 points, and Addison Ray also finished in double figures with 11 points.

Rockets notch second tournament victory

Up 21-18 after two quarters of play, Unity picked up their seventh win of the season with a 46-35 win over Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin Wednesday.

Making 7 of 17 shots, Reagan Little finished with 15 points for the Rockets. Raegen Stringer made buckets in every quarter to contribute 14 points. Addison Ray made three treys, adding nine points to UHS' side of the scoreboard.

Unity snags opening day win at Williamsville Tournament

It was almost like shooting ducks in a pond. Unity (10-0) rattled off 32 points in the first quarter and tacked on another 24 in the second to start the next half up 56-10 against Havana. The Rockets kept their unbeaten streak alive, rolling to 76-27 win at the Williamsville Holiday Tournament.

Dalton O'Neil led the Rockets in scoring with 14 points. Colten Langendorf had a 13-point effort, and Henry Thomas finished with 11 points. The three combined for half of the final score.

Area high school coaches

We need your help covering your team this season to help keep fans, college recruiters, and area readers informed.

If you are coaching basketball, wrestling, competitive cheer or competitive dance at Unity, Uni-High, Urbana High School, or St. Joseph-Ogden, please send us your game or meet results for our Prep Sports Notebook. The best way to send us box scores and other info is via email to sports@oursentinel.com or editor@oursentinel.com.

Providence Catholic leads Class 2A prelims at IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals

Members of the Providence Catholic dance team strike their finale pose at the 2025 IHSA Competitive Dance State Finalson Friday. The Dancing Celtics finished the first day of competition as the Class 2A leaders.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

BLOOMINGTON - Providence Catholic danced its way to the top of the Class 2A preliminary standings at the IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals on Friday, posting a 93.56 score to lead the field at Grossinger Motors Arena.

The Dancing Celtics, who placed fifth in last year’s finals, improved upon their 2024 preliminary standing by one spot and will look to claim the program’s first state title in Saturday’s championship round.

Morris secured the No. 2 position for the second straight year, earning a 92.34 score with their polished routine. Jacksonville, the reigning state champion, followed closely behind in third at 91.12, setting up a potential battle for the podium among the top three.

Performing a hip hop routine, the Morris Varsity Dance team finished this year's state prelims in second place.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

A tight race for the remaining top-five spots saw Montini (89.36), Carmel (89.30) and Highland (89.26) separated by less than a tenth of a point, underscoring the level of competition heading into the final round.

Evergreen Park (88.14), Marion (87.32), Joliet Catholic Academy (87.00), Nazareth Academy (86.84), Sycamore (86.00) and Clinton (85.18) rounded out the 12-team field advancing to Saturday's final.

With four of last year’s top five teams once again among the top performers, the 2025 championship showdown will feature familiar contenders at this year's state championships.

2025 Class 2A Preliminary Standings:

1. Providence Catholic – 93.56
2. Morris – 92.34
3. Jacksonville – 91.12
4. Montini – 89.36
5. Carmel – 89.30
6. Highland – 89.26
7. Evergreen Park – 88.14
8. Marion – 87.32
9. Joliet Catholic Academy – 87.00
10. Nazareth Academy – 86.84
11. Sycamore – 86.00
12. Clinton – 85.18

The Class 2A championship round begins Saturday morning.

Angels bring it home: JCA wins state dance title in emotional performance

The Joliet Catholic Angels claimed their second state dance title Saturday, scoring 92.28 to win the Class 1A championship in Bloomington.

Members of Joliet Catholic Academy collect their state trophy

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Members of the Joliet Catholic Dance Team rush forward to receive the trophy from the IHSA.

BLOOMINGTON - Joliet Catholic Academy claimed the IHSA Class 1A Competitive Dance State Championship on Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena, delivering a winning score of 92.28 to capture the program's second state title and cement its status as one of the state's premier dance programs. The Angels edged runner-up Jacksonville, which finished with 91.62, and third-place Morris at 91.06, capping a dominant postseason run that began with a sectional championship at Geneva and marked the program's eighth consecutive state tournament appearance.

The Angels entered Saturday's final round as the second seed after posting a 91.44 in Friday's preliminaries, trailing Jacksonville by just .04 of a point. Morris, which had finished behind JCA at the Geneva sectional, qualified third with a 90.48. When the final scores were announced, JCA had closed the gap and surged past both rivals, executing a moving interpretive routine that head coach Ava Tomich said was dedicated to all of the team's loved ones and designed to evoke deep emotion from both the dancers and the audience.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Members of the Angels Dance Team perform in Saturday's championship round.

Tomich, who was a member of JCA's 2019 state championship team alongside assistant coach Abi Voss, said the title represents the culmination of months of hard work and a commitment to upholding the legacy they helped establish years earlier. The program has built a remarkable record of sustained excellence, winning third-place trophies in 2020 and 2021 in Class 1A and bringing home another third-place finish in Class 2A in 2022 before working its way back to the top of the podium this year.

"It means the absolute world to us," Tomich said. "We are thankful for all the support and the passion that the girls poured into this season. It just feels unreal. It feels surreal."

Tomich said the journey to Saturday's championship required determination and a focus on bringing back the tradition of excellence that has defined the Angels' program over the past decade. When JCA took its final bow, the team's fans responded with thunderous applause, underscoring the emotional weight of a performance that resonated far beyond the technical execution.

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

LEFT: Performing sixth in the 1A order, Joliet Catholic dancers give their all during their performance. CENTER: Angel dancers share hugs after learning they were this year's Class 1A state champs. RIGHT: JCA head coach Ava Tomich receives her state gold medal. The first-year coach now has a state gold medal as both a coach and a competitor.

"It took a lot of hard work, determination, bringing back our tradition and withholding a legacy that we started a while ago," Tomich said. "It was just a dedicated piece to them and we wanted everybody in the audience to feel the emotion that we felt when we did this dance."

The championship roster consists of seniors Avery Quinn, Calleigh Kubinski, Addysen Kirby and Ella Fredrickson; juniors Olivia Clemny, Haley Grant, Anya Hrechko and Rylie Kessel; and sophomores Evelyn Borgra and Isabella Wieher. Camryn Whisenant also assisted Tomich with coaching duties throughout the season.

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SJO Dance Team advances to state championship round for first time

The fourth time proved to be the charm for St. Joseph-Ogden's dance team, which advanced to the state championship round for the first time in program history Friday. The Spartans will compete against Class 1A's elite at 11:16 a.m. on Saturday.

BLOOMINGTON - The St. Joseph-Ogden Dance Team broke through a three-year barrier Friday, earning its first trip to the championship round at the Illinois High School Association Competitive Dance State Finals.

The Spartans placed tenth overall with a score of 83.92 in preliminary competition at Grossinger Motors Arena, securing one of 12 coveted spots in Saturday's championship round. The achievement marks a milestone for the program in its fourth consecutive state appearance.

SJO SPORTS SJO is scheduled to perform at 11:16 a.m. Saturday, facing off against perennial Class 1A powerhouses including Clinton, Highland, Jacksonville and Morris. Jacksonville's Jettes currently lead the competition, followed by Joliet Academy and Morris.

The Spartans were the only area squad to advance from Friday's preliminaries. Unity's Rockettes finished 20th in Class 1A with a score of 78.51, while Champaign Central placed 27th in Class 2A with an 80.12. The Maroons were the lone Big Twelve Conference representative at this year's state finals.

Spectators planning to attend Saturday's championship round are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to avoid lines. Doors open at 10 a.m., with tickets priced at $12. Both card and cash will be accepted at the venue, though exact change is preferred.

The championship round will be broadcasted on the NFHS Network here.

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Spartans and Rockets dance squads advance to state finals

MASCOUTAH - The SJO Dance Team and Unity Rockettes placed in top six at the Mascoutah Sectional, advancing to the Illinois High School Association's Competitive Dance State Finals this Friday and Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

A member of the SJO Dance Team performs during the halftime show at the Toyota of Danville Basketball Tournament last month. The 11 talented dancers advance to Friday's IHSA state finals in Bloomington on Friday.

The Spartans finished third in Saturday's subsectional competition against 14 other schools, earning a score of 81.87. Unity, in the same subsectional finished ahead of Mattoon with a 78.83 in fifth place.

The sectional championship title went to Jacksonville (90.07), with Clinton (87.57) finishing in the runnerup spot.

The state final competition will at 101 South Madison Street. Tickets can be purchased online at here or by calling the box office at the area at 309-434-2777.

The IHSA will annouce the performance order later this week.

Mascoutah Dance Sectional Standings

1 Jacksonville 90.07
2 Clinton 87.57
3 St. Joseph-Ogden 81.87
4 Quincy Notre Dame 79.90
5 Unity 78.83
6 Mattoon 77.23

SJO Dance Team finishes 11th in first state finals appearance

SJO's Dance Team closed out a breakthrough season with an 11th-place finish at the IHSA Class 1A State Finals, just two points shy of cracking the top ten.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Members of the SJO Dance Team perform their routine at Grossinger Motors Arena during the IHSA Competitive State Dance Finals on Saturday. See more photos below.

BLOOMINGTON - The St. Joseph-Ogden Dance Team closed out its season Saturday with an 11th-place finish at the IHSA Class 1A Competitive Dance State Finals, capping a year of growth and perseverance that sent the Spartans into competition against the state's elite programs. SJO earned a score of 83.35 in the final round, finishing ahead of Murphysboro (83.02) and just shy of cracking the top ten behind Evergreen Park (85.14), while Joliet Catholic Academy claimed the championship trophy with a score of 92.28.

The Spartans qualified for the finals by posting the 10th-highest score in Friday's preliminary round at 83.92, securing their spot among the final 12 teams and performing third in Saturday's performance order. For a program competing at state for the first time and fielding a roster with five underclassmen among 10 team members, the experience of standing alongside perennial contenders like Jacksonville, the runner-up at 91.62, and Morris, third at 91.06, offered a glimpse of what sustained success requires at this level.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Coached by Alyssa Hudson, the team's routine was built around a metaphor of moving through adversity rather than avoiding it, choreographed to the song "Lightning Crashes" by Live and performed in costumes designed to evoke the chaos and color of a lightning storm. Hudson said the theme reflected the team's own journey this season, as they navigated the mental and physical challenges of competing at the highest level while building a program still in its infancy on the state stage.

"We learned a lot about moving through adversity as a team this year and we really leaned into that as our inspiration," Hudson said. "It feels so amazing to be in the state finals for the first time with the SJO dance program. We are happy to be here and we'll continue to grow the program every year."

Sophomore Ava Gallo, one of the underclassmen returning next season, said the team left everything on the floor despite falling short of a trophy. She pointed to mindset as a key area for improvement heading into next year's campaign, particularly when it comes to overcoming the mental barriers that can surface in high-stakes competition.

"We put in all the effort throughout the entire season, we went through ups and downs, and I feel like we literally put everything into this dance," Gallo said. "A positive mindset can really go a long way to push through all the mental blocks you have."

In addition to Gallo, this season's state qualifying team included seniors Abby Getty and Gracyn Sjoken; juniors Hadley McDonald, Lilly Sollars, Alivia Learned; and freshmen Darby Manion, Jillian Davis, Avary Buhr, and Leah Stephenson.

Hudson thanked the Spartans' fans, who brought light-up signs and energetic support throughout the season, and credited the administration at St. Joseph-Ogden for backing the program's growth. With the taste of state competition now behind them and a core of returning dancers ready to build on this year's foundation, the message from both coach and team was clear: this is just the beginning.

"We are upward and onward from here," Hudson said. "We are really excited."

TAGS: St. Joseph-Ogden dance team state finals results, SJO Spartans IHSA dance competition 2025, Class 1A competitive dance state championship Illinois, St. Joseph-Ogden first state dance appearance

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SJO Dance Team at State