The VVettes perform their award-winning championship dance “Top Gun” at their annual Review, “We’re All in this together” on Saturday, March 12th. (Photo: YoshiYama Photography)

VVHS, Mesquite, NV-

The Virgin Valley High School VVettes Drill Team gave a final performance for the year as they recalled the best of the year by performing their favorite dances and in their annual Review. The Review titled, “We’re all in this Together” was very evident within the emotions of the team members as they relayed all of their blood, sweat, and tears of hard work throughout the night.

The Review started at 6:00 pm on Saturday, March 12th, and included performances from The Mesquite Toes Tap, The Hughes Middle School Drill Team, Rhythm Dance Co, and also the VVHS Cheerleaders. The stands at the main gym at the campus of Virgin Valley High School were overflowing as the crowd cheered and applauded the amazing showing of heart and rhythm.

The sideshows of the Mesquite Toes Tap, the HMS Drill Team, Rhythm Dance Co, and the VVHS Cheerleaders all did 1-2 performances each. Each one of them got the crowd cheering, especially the Mesquite Toes who got the crowd on their feet hooting and hollering in support.

Another group who knew how to entertain was the “VV Boys”. All male students from Virgin Valley High School who were the VVettes escorts for the night also performed a dance with a couple of huge tosses of two of the boys into the air. They also participated in the end as they escorted each one of the VVettes out into the spotlight informal attire and all performed a waltz together as the clock struck the end of the “Cinderella” story.

The night ended with the announcement of the VVette awards, including Most Improved who went to Rachel Kazek, Miss Congeniality to Paulina Flores, and VVette of the Year to Maya Solis-Stokes. Also, the Seniors received a tiara crown to end the majestic night. Flores has won Miss Congeniality three years in a row.

“Surprisingly… surprising,” said Kazek when asked about being named Most Improved.

The biggest thing she accomplished according to her was able to do full splits. “Flexibility,” said Rachel.

The best performances definitely went to the VVettes for their award-winning dances, including their performance based on the movie “Top Gun”. The “Top Gun” Dance won them 1st place in a national competition and the Judge’s Choice in the same competition.

The most memorable dance will be the five Senior VVettes performing together as they gave their farewell performance bowing out of the VVette spotlight into the spotlight of a new adventure leading beyond high school. The love they had for each other and for their “Virgin Valley Family” was evident as the performance will forever be remembered by all those who attended.

“Biggest change is accepting that it is over for me as I am a Senior. It is very bittersweet,” said Paulina Flores.

“I feel like it has been our best year ever,” said Captain Maya Solis-Stokes. “I am so proud of the girls.”

The night was a spectacular show for all who attended and a spectacular memory to last for all those who participated.

Even though the VVettes did their last performance of the year, the hard work doesn’t end. The VVettes will start immediately back up with tryouts for next school year’s team. The tryouts are this month on March 22-24, 2022, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm for clinics that are mandatory with the actual official tryouts are March 25, 2022, from 4:00 pm until they are finished.

The team is coached by Head Coach Erica Garrett and Assistant Coach Jodi Johnson. They also got some help from Denise Houston.

The members of the VVettes are as follows by class.

Freshmen: Brianna Abbott, Asia Cannon, Joelee Griffiths, Rachel Kazek, and Stella Woods.

Sophomores: Kaycee Browning and Jessa Owsley.

Juniors: Dakota Hafen, Emma Houston, Co-Captain Jayci Johnson, Yadiro Muro, Co-Captain Dantzel Park, and ZoaJaynna Rich.

Seniors: Emily Anderson, Paulina Flores, Jaymie Hulet, Hannah Linge, Captain Maya Solis-Stokes, Jocelyn Spilker, and Co-Captain Abby Jo Sonnenberg.