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PROVO — The BYU Cougarettes won first prize in an international dance competition in Prague, Czech Republic. It was the first time the team has competed outside the U.S.
The award ads some foreign flair to the Cougarettes' 10 national titles and 1,000 euros to its budget.
Arriving home Monday night, the Cougarettes not only brought a crystal vase but their first ever international title.
Team member Megan Phillips said, "I just felt so much joy and really a lot of pride in my teammates and what we had achieved and the way that we had touched other people's lives. I felt like we accomplished everything that we set out to do, and it was a really good feeling."
Countless hours of mental and physical exertion, and the sacrifice of sleep, homework, and social time paid off. It's this dedication and hard work that the team's director, Jodi Maxfield, credits for its success.
- Established in 1946
- Part of the BYU Spirit Squad
- Categorized as a precision dance team
"They set really lofty goals at the beginning of the year. They wanted to go to nationals and win two national titles. They actually came home with the hip hop national title award. They fell short of the dance division by one one-hundredth of a point," she said.
But then they went to Prague. With precise technique, fluid movement, and grace, they earned the grand prix. They say despite language barriers, they built relationships with other competitors through smiles and movement. That's how they also won the most friendly award.
"We just found that almost everyone that was there really embraced these dancers," Maxfield said. "They were so grateful to be around them and to just learn from them and to feel their spirits and their love."
Their accomplishments will be on display in the BYU student athletics building. Next year's team is already making plans to win two more national titles.
