As this year’s Chiefette competition season ends, Ashley Allum’s first year as the only freshman on the team ends, too. Although she was the only freshman who earned a spot on the team this year, coach Carmen Yarbrough saw that Allum had no trouble fitting in.
“I feel like being the only freshman on the team is probably a tough transition, but she’s done it amazingly well. Some people would kind of look at being the only freshman as a negative thing, and she has embraced it, and it’s been the most positive thing ever,” Yarbrough said.
Allum’s dance journey started eight years ago, when she started dancing when she was six years old. She has moved from Carla’s Dance Factory to the Peachtree City School of Dance over the years.
“I started out doing shows and productions at the Legacy [Theatre], then I moved to Carla’s and now I’m on the Chiefettes.” Allum said.
At the beginning of the season, Allum did tryouts, where she first got into the Spirit team. The Spirit team only dances at games and does not do the competitions.
“For Spirit [tryouts], they’re getting evaluated on how genuine they are with school spirit, cheering on the chiefs, their sideline presence, and how quick they pick up on choreography and pom technique,” Yarbrough said.
Allum then got into the competition team, where they are assessed on more complicated skills and technical things.
“I was so nervous because I really wanted to make it [the team]. I was on a walk with my mom around the neighborhood, and I sort of burst down into tears. I was so thankful that I made it,” Allum said
The team gave Allum a group of people that were reliable and could help her with dancing or other school activities.
“It’s given me such a good community of people to always be able to rely on, and it’s made me a better person in so many ways. I can’t even put it into words,” Allum said.
The tryouts for next year’s season will be held from March 23 to April 1, located in the gym from 4-5:30 p.m. Spirit will be announced March 25 and Competition will be announced April 1.
“I have two separate tryouts. Spirit is the first three days. Competition is the rest of the days. If you want to make competition, you have to make the Spirit team first. There are two different score sheets and different set of skills required for both teams,” Yarbrough said.
On Feb. 13, the Chiefettes went to state competition where they were the runner up in pom and in jazz.
