![As part of the Lafayette community, local youth soccer club Rockwood United SC took part in the annual Homecoming Parade. The club was created by former LHS soccer coaches, Saverio Traversa and Craig Wideman, to provide better quality soccer coaching. We want to make sure that [soccer] is taught right, because when learned correctly its the best sport in the world, Wideman said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_4632-e1714576359118.jpg)
Feb. 5 was the last day that sophomore Kaili Raymond was proud of herself.
Varsity Escadrille performed at Disney World for Nationals, and ended up not only making it to Finals, but placing 7th in the nation.
Prelims took place Feb. 2, Semi-Finals Feb. 3 and Finals Feb. 4. The team found out their scores the following day.
The year before, during her freshman season on JV Escadrille, Raymond had hip problems and needed surgery.
“When I got to compete on that stage and we got 7th place in the whole nation, I was very proud of myself because I got through my surgery,” Raymond said.
Escadrille competed against over 100 teams in the medium category, Raymond said.
Even though she had to spend some time sitting out during her JV season, Raymond was able to audition for the varsity team.
“I had to try-out in November because I was still recovering from my hip surgery. Luckily, I was strong enough and my coaches gave me the chance to compete with them,” she said.
Try-outs for Escadrille usually take place in April, Raymond got her hip surgery on May 3.
“The whole summer I was doing physical therapy and trying to keep up with learning all the choreography while I was still injured, but I still worked hard and got put on the team,” Raymond said.
Escadrille had to attend the Universal Dance Association Camp over the summer in order to get their Nationals bid. The team competed against other local schools at that time.
“I had to sit out because I was still [injured],” she said.
Raymond was excited when she found out the Escadrille team’s placement at Nationals.
“I felt ecstatic, I felt explosive,” she said.
![Although being only one of the two oboe players in the school, freshman Elise Morton said she will continue playing the instrument throughout high school. “[Playing the oboe] makes me feel special because I know Im playing a rare instrument and I love having a challenge because there’s something to improve on and get even better,” Morton said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Elise-Morton-Featured-Photo.jpg)
![After Saegusas first performance with her hip-hop team in 2020, she holds her personal award for being the most improved. [When] I started, I didnt have any of the right technique, you could see I wasnt used to hip-hop in the beginning, so [that award] was for the most improved, she said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LTI-SNO-pic-Saegusa.png)
Coach Ponce • May 23, 2024 at 8:36 am
We are so proud of Kaili! She is a role model for perseverance and hard work. Looking forward to another Nationals season with our rockstar!