Maddie Carr and Alizebeth Wallace continued a tradition of success for McAlester’s pom squad.

The McAlester seniors helped their team finish as the state runners-up in the pom and hip-hop categories of the Class 5A state competition this year and 12th at the Universal Dance Association’s national competition in the Game Day category. The pair also earned spots on the Oklahoma State Dance Team Directors’ Association all-state dance team this year to wrap up successful high school careers.

“I think it’s cool because out of everyone that out of our school and the seniors across the state, everyone tries out for all-state, but not a lot of people make it,” Carr said.

“It’s an honor because there were a lot of people trying out,” Wallace said.

Carr and Wallace had two weeks to learn a dance routine before auditioning against 120 other dancers for the all-state team.

The two were selected among the top 30 in the state and McAlester pom coach Maggie Homer said they led the program with high work ethics.

“They have good work ethic and during practice they show very good leadership and I think being a leader will help,” Homer said.

McAlester pom won back-to-back OSDTDA state titles in 2015 and 2016, with several team members going on to compete at the next level.

What’s key to that success?

“They all work together and try to help and encourage each other,” Homer said. “They all work hard to help their team be successful. They’re all working together toward the same goal.”

Wallace also recently tried out for the Oklahoma State University pom team and made it.

After originally trying out for the University of Oklahoma, Wallace said her tryout at OSU was a quick process and she was chosen among a field that included current members of the team.

“It wasn’t really intimidating,” Wallace said. “I just went in to have fun.”

Wallace said she plans to finish her basics in her first year at OSU and has yet to choose a major.

Carr made it to the final cut of the dance team tryouts at OSU, where she wants to major in medicinal biophysical chemistry. She plans to graduate with a bachelor’s degree and go on to pharmacy school at the University of Oklahoma.

She said one of her favorite memories as a pom member at McAlester came in her freshman season at the state competition.

“Our team won and it was the first time in quite a few years that McAlester pom has won — and it had never been in hip-hop, it had always been in pom,” Carr said.

Wallace said one of her favorite moments was when McAlester pom performed at the castle in Disney World her freshman year.

“That was a really fun experience because I’ve never performed in front of that many people in such a big setting,” Wallace said.