On Oct. 8, 2009, St. Joseph’s championship-winning Step team held tryouts for interested students. Tryouts were held in the gym with the current members including Captain Nichole Prime and the four co-captains. It started directly after school and lasted until 5:00pm. Although Step is a competitive sport, the team told us that “We are one,” and because of that they are a well-oiled machine.

Tryouts for the step team happens every year around this time. Co-captain Freyani Patrice said, “The team doesn’t really have any definite spots to fill. The main goal is to find students who want to step.”

But this year there was a major difference from past tryouts. The size of the tryouts was unbelievable: more than 100 students showed up. “There are a whole lot of people this year,” said Nichole Prime.

On Day One of tryouts, the original members took groups of eleven students, and they taught them their signature step, called “Undone.” About fifteen people dropped out because it was too intense for them.
On Day Two the remaining students were split into groups A and B. Group A were the students who picked up the step faster. At the end of tryouts, Group B became the Junior Varsity Step team and Group A became the Varsity Step team.

The Step team is very dedicated to what they do and tryouts were a good example of the rigorous work they do. They practice twice a week on Thursday and Friday after school until 5:00 pm. Students found out that you need a lot of dedication to be on this championship winning team.
Elizabeth Mohabir said, “I knew I would need dedication to be a stepper because the steppers are perfectionists.”

No wonder our team is Number One! Lock it up, Cougars!