Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
Joliet Catholic Academy entered 2019 with 31 state finals, but that wasn’t enough for the venerable JCA athletic program justice.
The Angel dance team added to that number when it brought home the IHSA Class 1A Competitive Dance state finals title.
It was the 32nd title for the school, but first for the dance program.
Joliet Catholic Academy claimed the state title in Class 1A Competitive Dance this season. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)
“We couldn’t be more thrilled as a team,” said coach Shelley Poropat. “This is something that we have been looking for years and years, for it to come true we are all just honored to be apart of the great JCA history.”
The big stage is not something that was particularly new for the JCA Dance team, as Poropats squad came in fourth place at last year’s festivities, with an axe to grind in the 2018-19 season.
Poropat said with every year having the mindset to get better individually and collectively as a team, it wasn’t a straightforward path to the finals for her girls this year.
“We’ve had several injuries throughout this year which obviously made it very tough,” Poropat said. “The day before we left for state, two of my girls were quite sick as well, but as a team all you can do is push through and support each other the entire time.”
The Angels featured seven returning dancers from last year’s squad, and the 10-member team featured just two seniors, co-captains Abi Voss and Reese Hafner.
“We’re known as a football school usually, so its been really nice to give dance team a name,” Hafner said. “It’s been such an honor to represent this school and like I said show that we’re not just a football and baseball based school.”
For Voss, she said she has always been well aware of the accolades and the high standards her school sets, so brining home a championship was even more incumbent upon her.
“In my family, everyone has won championships here at JCA,” Voss said. “It’s finally so nice to be part of that conversation, and to bring home the title.”
In order to reach its goals, JCA had to rebound after a subpar performance being behind Morris, who posted a 93.22, while Clinton scored a 89.4 compared to JCA’S 89.3.
The resilient Angels had no quit in them the following day on Saturday however, as they posted a 95.68 to usurp Morris’ 95.08.
Not only did JCA win the the state title, it recorded the best score in Class 1A tournament history, topping Highland’s 95.05 mark from a year ago.
For Poropat, a former JCA dancer, she believes this year was just the beginning and this team set the foundation for more successful years of dance to come in JCA’s future.
“Setting that goal at the beginning of the year and then meeting that goal is very fulfilling,” Poropat said. “To get on the map, and to put JCA dance on notice with the great group of girls we have is something we take pride in.”
With the title, Joliet Catholic now has more state championships than any other private school in Illinois.
“This success truly comes from all of the great coaches we’ve had here at JCA,” said Dan Sharp, JCA Athletic Director. “Our families and here at Joliet is who we are. We are a blue collar, hard-working family who keeps passing down the high and proud tradition that is Joliet Catholic.”