The Highland Belles named sophomore Jillian Ellis, and juniors Maddie Basso, Landry Myers, Olivia Gruber and Flora Kate Richards as Lieutenants for the 2016- 2017 Highland Belles last week after a rigorous tryout process.

“I wanted to try out to get the experience and also because I wanted to be a Lieutenant so I can help make Belles an even greater team than it already is. The tryout process was quite stressful much like any tryout. We had to kick, then do a dance and after that we had an interview so the judges could get to know us! After that we did another dance, and then the strut that the Lieutenants do on the field at games. I couldn’t believe when I made it! My face probably looked really funny because I never imagined that it would be me and I think it came off as looking confused. I was so excited though and I can’t wait for the new season,” sophomore Jillian Ellis said.

Since there were fourteen candidates trying out this year, it was hard to tell who was going to make it. The week of tryouts starts with the candidates teaching the team for next year the new team dance so that the girls can get a good idea of each candidate’s teaching style and whether it works for the team or not. After that the whole team comes together, including the seniors, and each person votes for the five candidates that they would like to be Lieutenants for the next year.

“Trying out as a returning Lieutenant was weird because everyone assumes that you will make it again, but I knew that nothing was for sure so I still had to work just as hard as the girls who were trying out to be a Lieutenant for the first time. I was super nervous because of course I wanted to look good in my tryout. It was so fun when I made it because senior, Ellie Gosnell tapped me in and that made it really special. The last strut with the current Lieutenants was really sad because it was the last time that I will strut with that group of people, and it was kinda like transforming from one group to another,” junior Olivia Gruber said.

Next year as you attend football games make sure you look out for these five hard working girls strutting down the field in their white fringe and remember how hard they had to work to get to their spots.