Ocoee Middle School Dance Team under the direction of Tria Montgomery, took top honors and was awarded Overall High Score Middle School Grand Champion at the Kennesaw State University Seventh Annual Invitational Dance Competition, Jan. 12 in Georgia.

The team won first place in Pom division and second place in Jazz division. Emily Derrick, co-captain of the team, won first place in Teen Solo Division.

“This was our first competition of the season and the team looked amazing,” Tria Montgomery said. “Ocoee Middle School’s Dance Team has been working extremely hard. This is a great group of girls and they represented the school well in Kennesaw.”

The Ocoee Middle School Dance team performs at the school’s football and basketball games and conducts various fundraisers throughout the year to fund participation in competitions. It is made up of 18 team members: co-captains Emma Beavers and Emily Derrick; Ashley Harper, Kameron Shultz, Mikaesha Montgomery, Karson Beverly, Ryan Johnson, Massey Burnes, Katelyn Martin, Whitley Harris, Madison Mabe, Celeste Powers, Logan Griffith, Hope Salmond, Christin Childree, Jenna Roberts, Morgan Nalefski and Haylee Gannaway.

Tryouts for the Ocoee Middle School Dance Team are held in the fall each year. Dance ability, school spirit, energy, determination and ability to work as a team are all taken into consideration during the tryout process.