SPEAR-IT DANCERS WIN MDA TROPHY

Like the U.S. mail, members of the Jackson High School Spear-It Dancers were not kept from their appointed rounds by bad, winter weather.

One of only a handful of high school dance teams to brave December's snow and ice and take part in a Muscular Dystrophy Association fund-raising effort in conjunction with the University High Christmas Tournament, the Jackson group claimed the first-place trophy.

The Spear-It Dancers brought in nearly $400 to aid the MDA, garnering them a large trophy. Co-captain Jennifer Watkins, meanwhile, won a plaque as the top individual money-raiser.

"We went around and asked for donations," said co-captain Deidre King, one of two seniors on the squad. "A lot of teams had to cancel because of the bad weather."

The Jackson dancers, sponsored by Melanie Duncan, hope to enter state dance competition next year, for the first time. Until now, performing at basketball games has been the extent of the dance team's competition.

"We have a very strong team this year," King said.

This year's squad has two seniors (Ashley Powers is the other), four juniors and two sophomores. Tryouts for ninth grade and up are held yearly. The group also puts on a clinic for grades 3-9 each winter.

Squad members include King, Powers, Watkins, Roni Hayden, Jessica Pierce, Amanda Dumey, Karisa Williams and Ashley Illers.