Stoddert step team earns top spots in regional competitions

The Benjamin Stoddert Middle School step team, the "Stoddert Steppers" recently earned second place at the Step Up and Show Out competition, held April 26 at Falls Church High School in Virginia. Teams from regional elementary, middle and high schools competed in the event.

The team was awarded a trophy, the third the team has received this school year. The group competed in two competitions earlier this school year: the Reach the Beach competition and Upper County Step Show. They were awarded first place in the first competition, held in Ocean City among middle and high school teams. The group earned second place out of five teams competing at the middle-school level in the Upper County Step Show, held at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The group also held the first step team exhibition in January and invited four other county teams to participate in the event. Each team was critiqued in the exhibition and awarded a trophy.

The team's 25 members are: sixth graders Samantha Berry, Atira Best, Kamiya Harris, London Howard, Evelyn Pike, Rachel Ringenberg, Kaylin Stromen and Raven Womack; seventh graders Myia Brown, Nichole Charity, Dionna Dickens, Antonio Green, Aryn Johnson, Doris Johnson, Nakoyia Price, Charelle Stewart and JiMi Wakaria; and eighth graders Diane Bennett, LaQuana Brandon, Diamonae Brantley, Bria Cunningham, Alexandria Palmer, Kelsey Pearson, Amanda Teixeira and Angelique Wigglesworth.