On October 16th, 2024 students of WHS met together for the first time after last year’s events where Aamirah, Kaelyn, and Delilah the former step captains graduated. People weren´t sure if the Step team would be active this year after Mrs. Cruz, a speech teacher and the coordinator of last year’s Step team; stepped down.
” I was just spread thin with all of the clubs that I was a part of and, there was just so many obligations that I had [so I couldn’t] dedicate myself to Step in the way it needed. I thought that was unfair to the students for me to do something halfway”.
New Coordinator of Step
The struggle of finding a new coordinator was hard. There was no other teacher to take on the responsibility of committing themselves to the team, however, they got lucky. An English teacher Ms. Wazner who is fairly new to Woodbridge, took on the opportunity and decided to be the new coordinator. While having no Step experience, Mrs. W wanted to manage the Step team and give kids the experience of a lifetime. When asked what inspired her to say yes, she said
“Mostly because I hadn’t done something like this before and I wanted to use this new opportunity to have a bunch of new opportunities. I taught high school for quite some time and this was a good way to get back into the mindset and into the structure of high school.”
New Step Captains
Following that, a senior at WHS and captain of this year’s Step team, Kaylin Williamson is eager and excited for this year’s Step team. She has some great ideas and has collaborated with Katelynn Burgos, a former Step member; and now co-captain to make the team greater than ever. Kaylin Williamson has been stepping for a very long time and said that she believes Step can be for everyone.
“ Step is for everyone, I don’t like when people say oh it’s only for African Americans because it’s not. I really just feel like it’s a skill thing and has nothing to do with race, size, etc.”
Barron Steppers Tryouts
After the meeting on the 16th, the tryout date was set. The Barron Steppers tryouts were held in Cafe 125, on the 23rd with a turnout of an estimated 40. More than in prior years. It ran smoothly with many new students, hoping to become new members. Results came back on Monday the 28th, and it was posted that 35 girls made the team, separated by 2 groups; A team and B team. 23 girls made the A team which is the primary team that will perform. On the contrary, 10 girls made the B team which is the team that is not very serious/doesn’t perform, but still would have come to practices.
New Goals for the 2024 Step Team
The goal of this year’s Step team is not only to dominate the school with their powerful body movement, but to also hopefully compete with other schools which has never been done before. Following the History of Step, these girls are ready and determined to take over WHS. The Barron Steppers could potentially make a new legacy!
“ In WHS I want others to see a [change in the perspective of Step]. I want to have the Steppers to be one of the top performers.” Said Kaylyn Williamson. “ I want Step to be loved like how football is loved, and how basketball is loved, and how cheerleaders are loved.”
