Several local dancers received division one medals and top ten finishes at the state soloist competition held this past Thursday and Friday. 

For the first time in its nearly five-decade history, the Iowa State Dance Team Association hosted a championship competition for junior varsity competitors. On Thursday and Friday, 950 soloists from varsity dance teams and color guards, along with 21 JV teams, were at Newton and Pella for the ISDTA State Solo Qualifiers. 

Knoxville had five dancers receive division one ratings, which meant they had to average a score of 80 or above. Out of 73 dancers, Remy Vasquez-Smith placed in the top ten, which sends her to the State Championship competition on Friday, December 6th. Vasquez-Smith is the first soloist in the top ten for Knoxville since 2019. Other division one medalists include Reese Agan, Lily Wittenburg, Alyssa McCreery, and Abi Vander Linden. 

For Pella Forte, Sietje Beukelman was a top ten finisher and will be competing at the state championships on December 4th. Others who received division one rating for Pella include Makenna Hall, Marley Lightkeeper, and Becca Winegardner

Newton Pacesetters had a top ten finisher with MeLayna Budinich, and she will compete at the state championships on December 6th. MeLayna is the only Pacesetter in the program history to place all four years of high school. 

Addison Wall from Pleasantville had a top ten finish and Lauren Furnal earned a division one rating. Wall will compete at the state championships on December 4th.

Indianola had eight total dancers participate. 

Four PCM Dance Team members received Division I ratings on their State Solos: Seniors Rylee DeHaai and Charlotte Landwehr and Freshmen Katelynn Fagg and Allison Minteer.

Soloists are divided into classes based on school enrollment. There are 12 classes for solos, two classes for color guard, and three individual entries in ISDTA’s Beyond Limits Category.