5A state drill: Pleasant Grove holds off loaded field for 1st title

OREM — The final day of competition at the 5A state drill team championships were something of a who's who of high school drill and dance in Utah.

For starters, there was Bountiful, the state-record 22-time champion Mandonelles who won it all last year for the first time since 2019.

Reigning back-to-back 4A champion Hillcrest and HD's nine titles were also among the finalists, as was three-time champion Viewmont, two-time champion Brighton, 2007 4A champion Roy and 2019 4A champion Spanish Fork.

Pleasant Grove, Woods Cross, and newcomers West Field had yet to put their names in the state record book.

But the Vikettes weren't just happy to be there.

Instead, Pleasant Grove finished first in dance and show and second in military to clinch its first 5A state drill title in program history Saturday night at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University.

"From the beginning, this group had a goal and every single week, they reminded themselves of those goals," Pleasant Grove coach Sami Jo Carson said. "They were willing to work hard and do it together. They pushed each other to be amazing, not just in dance but in all aspects of their lives and that's what really set them apart."

Pleasant Grove fended off Bountiful, which won the military category, as well as third-place Spanish Fork to hoist the trophy for the first time in program history. Viewmont and West Field also finished in the top five.

Like the rest of the school, the Vikettes were new to 5A as well, the latest change among the Utah High School Activities Association's rotating realignment cycle.

But Pleasant Grove's senior group of Tessa Lillywhite, Elle Devore, Emma Berg, Mya Tuaileva, Afton Mitchell, Lyla Olsen, Cada Brady, Chloe Campbell and Leah Blake led a group of talented younger dancers out to prove that championships are "earned, not given," Carson said.

So when the team clinched two of the three categories, the rest of the finalists didn't even wait for the final results to be read before rushing the Vikettes in the corner of the court.

"They did it together," added Carson, whose team came in second in the final RPI rating of the season. "Our seniors were incredible, worked hard, had clear goals from the beginning, and they led the team to success. But every individual had a part in this team's success this year."

5A state drill competition

Overall

1. Pleasant Grove
2. Bountiful
3. Spanish Fork
4. Viewmont
5. West Field

Military

1. Bountiful
2. Pleasant Grove
3. Spanish Fork
4. Hillcrest
5. Viewmont

Dance

1. Pleasant Grove
2. Bountiful
3. Spanish Fork
4. West Field
5. Viewmont

Show

1. Pleasant Grove
2. Spanish Fork
3. Bountiful
4. Viewmont
5. West Field

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