ST. GEORGE — The Kanab High School drill team, known as the Larriettes, lassoed the 2A state championship trophy Friday night, snapping an eight-year winning streak by South Sevier.
Nevertheless, it also was Kanab’s third state title over the past four years, with the Larriettes having won in both 2019 and 2020 before finishing second to Enterprise last year.
Kanab head coach Shellie Stewart explained that South Sevier had won its first four in a row as a 2A school from 2014-17, then the Rams moved up to the 3A classification and won four more titles from 2018-21. Starting this year, South Sevier has moved back down to 2A.
The battle for first place on Friday night was extremely close, with South Sevier winning both the military and the show categories but finishing third in dance. Meanwhile, Kanab won the dance category and finished second in the other two, narrowly edging the Rams in overall points on the judges’ scorecards.
The competition took place on Thursday and Friday at the UCCU Center on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem.
Stewart compared this year’s Larriettes team to “the little engine that could.”
With a small team of just 14 girls, half of whom were new, it was initially thought to be a building year, she said.
“But they wouldn’t accept that role. They believed all year they could win state.”
Stewart said her team performed well during the season, even though they didn’t place first in any competitions.
“After getting second place in region, we added extra practices and pushed to take our routines to the next level,” Stewart said. “The coaches studied score sheets and judges comments, strategizing any possible way to improve our routines and give us the edge.”
“We left no stone unturned,” she added. “The team received these changes and upgrades with eagerness, hungry for the win. We never lost hope and we peaked at the right time.”
Stewart also noted that the team’s motto was “One Team One Heart,” and called their victory at state “an underdog story of perseverance and sheer fight.”
The 14 girls on the Larriettes squad are as follows: Hallie Beckstead, Ciara Brown, Kaidee Clarkson, Kemmer Eggenberger, Maya Hafen, Paige Hines, Allie Houston, Sara Jacobs, Kylee Jones, Mia Kabella, Harlee Riggins, Leila Seely, Shelby Springall and Sophia Stewart.
Stewart’s assistant coaches were Emily Koelliker and Mikkel Glazier.
2A state drill team competition
Utah Valley University, Orem
Overall team standings
- Kanab
- South Sevier
- Gunnison
- Enterprise
- Parowan
Military
- South Sevier
- Kanab
- Gunnison
- North Summit
- Parowan
Dance
- Kanab
- Enterprise
- South Sevier
- Parowan
- Gunnison
Show
- South Sevier
- Kanab
- Enterprise
- San Juan
- Gunnison
Photo Gallery
Kemmer Eggenberger and Harlee Riggins, the only two seniors on the Kanab Larriettes drill team, strike a pose with the trophy after winning state 2A championship, Orem, Utah, Feb. 4, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Shellie Stewart, St. George News Kanab Larriettes coaches (L-R) Mikkel Glazier, Shellie Stewart and Emily Koelliker pose with the team's trophy after winning state 2A championship, Orem, Utah, Feb. 4, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Shellie Stewart, St. George News Kanab Larriettes drill team members and coaches after winning state 2A championship, Orem, Utah, Feb. 4, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Shellie Stewart, St. George News Kanab Larriettes drill team members and coaches after winning state 2A championship, Orem, Utah, Feb. 4, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Shellie Stewart, St. George News
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