Dazzling duos
This year, the Dazzler dance team has a shift in team dynamic with three sets of sisters.
From left to right: Alli McConnell, Megan McConnell, Natalie Pyle, Maggie Pyle, Claire Kampshcroeder and Caroline Kampschroeder smile together before the varsity soccer game Sept. 18 at the DAC.
Although all of the dancers on the BVNW Dazzler dance team have been close in years past, this year a new element has brought the team even closer together: three sets of sisters.
The pairs are senior Natalie and sophomore Maggie Pyle, senior Megan and freshman Alli McConnell, and junior Claire and freshman Caroline Kampschroeder.
“We just do everything together now, so it brings us closer because we know everything that’s going on with each other,” Alli said. “We’re just a lot closer than before.”
This is the second year that the Pyles have had each other on the team together, unlike the other two groups of sisters. Natalie said that it has noticeably changed team dynamic.
“It was a lot different last year than it had been [previously without Maggie], because I was used to being one of the younger girls,” Natalie said. “All of a sudden we were the older girls. [Even though the team] wasn’t with girls I didn’t know, it was with [Maggie], so it was weird but a lot more fun.”
The Kampschroeders, who have been dancing together since the ages of four and six, said that because there are three sets of sisters, it brings the team closer.
“I feel like we’re more aware of where each other are and what to expect out of each other,” Caroline said.
This general knowledge of each other that comes with the sisters creates a way for the dancers to get to know each other even before they are on the team.
“I know all of [Maggie’s] friends that made the team and I feel closer with all of them and not just her,” Natalie said. “It makes the whole team closer because all of the grades are mixed.”
This mixture of friend groups creates more openness, and when conflicts arise, it can carry over into the sisters’ relationships.
“When there’s drama on the team you automatically know about it,” said Natalie. “When people are fighting, that just spreads [to me and Maggie].”
All in all, Caroline said having so many sisters on the team has changed the dynamic of the team, but in the best sense.
“Being on Dazzlers together is good because we’re there to be on the journey together,” Caroline said.
Senior Olivia Baird has been a writer and reporter for one year, the opinion editor for one year and is now the online editor for BVNWnews.com. She is also involved in PEEPs and is a member of Quill and Scroll National Honor Society for High School Journalists and NHS. She is really into going out to eat at the Olive Garden, she's interested in how the Olive Garden makes such good breadsticks and a favorite of hers is the Olive Garden's breadsticks. Her favorite thing about newspaper is the cool mix of different people; she looks forward to working with every single person in newspaper every day.
