It was a weekend of glorifying wins for everyone as Lancer Dancers and XCalibur brought home three first place titles at the USA Regionals competition. Lancer Dancers won first place in hip hop and Xcalibur received first place in jazz and pom.

However, for XCalibur this was not just an ordinary competition. For the first time, they competed in the large varsity division instead of JV.

“Competing in the large varsity division instead of JV really motivated us to work harder and perfect our routine because we were going against more advanced teams,” junior Kelsie Arballo said. “It was kind of a curveball for us, but we practiced a ton and grew from it.”

Having to compete in a whole different division could have stunted other groups, but XCalibur proved their talent and dedication when they received 1st place in both categories. The post-competition atmosphere was ecstatic and animated as both Xcalibur and Lancer Dancers both brought home their trophies, beaming with Carlsbad pride.

“It felt amazing to do as well as we did,” junior Lauren Streicher said. “Because it was our first time competing in the varsity division, getting first place in both categories was so unbelievable. We all danced our hearts on the floor and couldn’t have asked for better results.”

Throughout the year, Lancer Dancers and XCalibur participate in numerous competitions, the most prominent and well-known being Nationals. However, the USA Regionals competition was a challenging experience that in the end proved to be rewarding for both teams.

“The general atmosphere of the competition was much more relaxed than I expected,” junior Catherine Lee said. “There was some confusion because we had never been there before, but it was still really intense because we got to share the stage with so many amazing teams. USA Regionals was truly a wonderful experience for us, and we are so grateful to have had this opportunity.”