High School Team: Lake Park

College Team: Purdue Goldusters

Coaching experience: IC Catholic, York

Lauren has been dancing since the age of 3; she has been under the direction of Mary Pilalis owner and director of Aspire Dance Company from Center Stage Dance Studio. During her time with Aspire she was the national champion in 2008, and her solo placed in the top three at nationals from 2009-2012. In 2011 she became the artistic director of Integrity Dance Company. Although her time with Integrity was short she won three choreography awards and was responsible for three of her seven soloists winning national titles. During high school she was also the captain and choreographer of her high school dance team for two years (2011-2012): The Lake Park Lancettes. She choreographed two state winning routines, and in 2011 received the highest artistic score in the state of Illinois for her open dance routine. Her high school team won the title of Grand Champions that year. Lauren then went on to attend Purdue University from 2012-2015 where she majored in Speech-Language Hearing Sciences. She was apart of the Golduster Dance Team and served as the student leader (captain) for two years. She was responsible for a majority of the choreography at sporting events (football, men’s and women’s basketball, soccer and wrestling) since her freshman year. Lauren has also worked with many Illinois and Indiana high school dance teams including: Sycamore High School and York High School, among many others. Lauren helped Sycamore High School finish with a bid to the finals and a third place finish at the IHSA dance finals for the 2015-2016 season. She also helped York finish in the top 6 at the IHSA dance finals for the 2016-2017 season. Most recently, she is recognized for choreographing the 3A IHSA state winning performance by York High School. Currently, Lauren is the Head Varsity Coach at Immaculate Conception Catholic Prep (ICCP), which competes in the 1A division in Illinois. The team won their 2018 Sectional competition and finished 10th overall in the IHSA 1A state finals. She is also the assistant coach at York High School. When she is not working with high school teams she is practicing as a speech-language pathologist in Roselle. She is a recent graduate of Northwestern University where she received her masters degree in Speech Pathology.

High School Team: Grayslake North '15

I began training as a child at the Dance Connection in downtown Grayslake. I remained competitive with studio dance through high school, along with being on the Grayslake North Dance Team. I did and still continue to take additional classes at Visceral Dance Center in Chicago as well as with the Missouri Contemporary Ballet. Now at the University of Missouri studying health sciences, I plan on going on to get my doctorate of chiropractic. Through this program I have had opportunities to work with many D1 athletes through the rehabilitation science program, including the Mizzou football team. In regards to choreography, I choreographed for the Grayslake Colts JV and Varsity dance teams in 2015, creating a state-winning varsity pom routine. I also have choreographed and performed senior capstone projects for the MU school of journalism, as well as a concept video pitch for the Ocean Spray corporation in 2017. Currently I work at the Body Refinery Gym, where I teach hot yoga and Zumba classes throughout the week as well as work on choreography.

High School Team: Crystal Lake South (dancer) and Jacobs (coach)

Allison competed on and captained the Crystal Lake South varsity teams that did so well in the pom and kick categories in the 2000s. She attended the University of Iowa and served her former team as a varsity assistant from 2005-06, and then led the JV program through 2008. She went on to coach the Jacobs varsity team from 2009-2017. Besides multiple appearances at state, Allison oversaw their stunning transition from hip hop and pom to lyrical and jazz.

High School Team: Minooka '16
Casi first took a couple classes when she was 3 but she counts her technical dance career as starting at age 9! She's studied at Gina's School of Dance in Minooka for her entire 10 years of dance experience, where she occasionally substitute teaches when she's on break from St. Ambrose University. Casi danced on the Minooka Arrowettes where she was captain of her JV team as a sophomore, the same year that she was awarded ``Best Turner`` on JV. She earned the Scholar Athlete award for all four of her years as an Arrowette. Her favorite style of dance to perform is jazz or contemporary. Casi's senior year routine stands out as her fave: ``It was Batman-themed and the music was really different which made it a challenging piece for us, but in the end we turned it into something so cool to watch and perform.`` As a fan, Casi's favorite style to watch is anything contemporary or lyrical. ``I love watching other dancers put all their emotion and energy into a number that really pulls the audience in,`` she writes. The SAU nursing major also danced for part of her freshman year on the St. Ambrose Dance Team!

High School Team: Crystal Lake Central '15

Brittany Hayes is a four year varsity dance team veteran of the Crystal Lake Central Dance Team, who has continued her studies at the University of Georgia double majoring in Sport Management and Sport Marketing. Within her 14 years of dance experience she’s trained in many genres including: tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, pom, modern, lyrical, and pointe. She was a part of the inaugural IHSA 2A Dance State winning team and continued to place top 10 at the IHSA State competitions throughout the rest of her high school career, and also helped to create a three year reign as Fox Division Champions of the Fox Valley Conference. Brittany’s also recognized as a two year Fox Valley All-Conference Athlete, a UDA All American Dancer, and a part of the Fox Valley Conference Academic Team for Athletic teams. While not only successful within her dance career, Brittany maintained a 3.9 GPA on a 4.0 scale and also graduated 6th in her class. Her passion for dance has yet to dwindle and she aspires to one day open her own dance studio and continue spreading the love for dance that she has built over her years.

High School Team: Warren '17
Serina danced with the elite Warren JV and Varsity Dance Teams for three seasons. If you follow Warren's trail of success, this is no surprise: hip hop is her favorite style of dance! Serina earned several awards as part of the Warren Devilettes (Most Energetic as a sophomore, Most Helpful as a junior, and Always Goes Full-Out as a senior). She also won the North Suburban Conference's Sportsmanship Award her final year. She studied with Steps Dance Company (where she was part of their competition team for a year) and Rhythm Academy. She has also taught ballet and tap for ages 3-6 at The Little Gym in Gurnee. Serina currently dances on the Iluzion Dance Team at Carthage College (with 8CA teammates Mia and Paige), where she's a Business Finance Major with a minor in Spanish. Her sister followed her footsteps and dances on the Warren Devilettes!

High School Team: Hinsdale South '17

Hello y’all! My name is Paige Hollendonner and I am beyond excited to be a part of the 8 Count Audio Staff! I am from Darien, Illinois and I am a proud Hinsdale South Danceline alum. I am currently a freshman at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. I am a Political Science major with a pre-law focus, but I do have a love for journalism that I may also want to pursue in the future. I love being on this staff because it allows me to combine two things that I love; writing and dancing! As for my dance experience, I have been dancing since the age of two, and I cannot imagine a life without dance! My studio dance career started at Bluestone Academy when I was younger, and then Beyond the Stars Dance Academy became my place of growth throughout my high school years. I was also a proud member of Hinsdale South Danceline throughout all four years of high school. I have continued my dance career here at Carthage as well. I really do owe my love of dance to my high school dance team though. Without Hinsdale South Danceline I do not believe my love of dance would be as strong as it is today. I love that being a part of this staff allows me to still be around my high school team, and to be able to see their continuous growth! I am excited to document the growth for all teams in Illinois as well! I thought that a perfect way to end my bio was with my favorite quote: “Dancing with your feet is one thing, but dancing with your heart is another.``

High School Team: Jacobs '17

Grace is an H.D. Jacobs dance alum who currently studies engineering at the University of Minnesota. Dancing since she was three, Grace took a wide variety of classes from various dance studios in the Algonquin/Dundee/Elgin area. She has studied many styles including ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz, and contemporary/lyrical. Grace played an extremely active role in the Jacobs dance program during her four years in high school; from acting as one of the captains her senior year to helping organize their own ``dance camp`` when left without a coach for a summer. Grace helped her Varsity team win the Fox Valley conference title three years in a row, along with obtaining two Athletic All-conference honors, an Academic All-conference honor, and being selected as the team's MVP her senior year. Along with dance, music is also largely a part of Grace's life. She has been playing the string bass since 2008, and since has participated in district and state music festivals, played in her school's chamber orchestra, taken lessons at Judson University, and was accepted into the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Now in college, when she's not fangirling over getting to watch the U of M dance team in person, Grace continues to take dance lessons (she's now trying ballroom), mess around on the piano, play bass in a campus orchestra, and do lots and lots of homework. She's elated to be a part of the 8CA team and is so glad to be involved in the IHSA dance scene even after graduating!

High School Team: Mahomet-Seymour '17
I began dancing at the age of 3 on a competition team and competed all across the Midwest. I trained in multiple styles including ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, contemporary, lyrical, and more. I also danced and choreographed on the Mahomet-Seymour High School dance team for 4 years and was captain my senior year. I now dance for the Illinettes Dance Team at the University of Illinois and am majoring in dance!

High School Team: Mahomet-Seymour '17
Malea started dancing when she was 2 and danced competitively with her studio. In 7th grade, she studied ballet at Orange County School of The Arts. She came back to Mahomet, Illinois and danced with her high school dance team all four years, leading it as captain her senior year. She's proud to have been part of a program that placed in the top 10 at state three years in a row, including a state title her sophomore year. Malea was on the team that made positive headlines with the ``What Room Does Fear Have`` viral video. She attends Parkland College and is studying Criminal Justice while teaching dance at Twist And Shout Dance & Cheer.

High School Team: Belleville East '17

High School Team: Neuqua Valley '18
Hey guys! My name is Hannah Pawelski and I am from Naperville, Illinois. I was lucky enough to be apart of the Neuqua Dance Team throughout all four years of high school. I began dancing at the age of three at Steps Dance Center. A few years later I continued my training at Midwest Edge Dance Academy. I decided to tryout for the Neuqua Dance Team for my freshman year of high school. I was on the Junior Varsity team my freshman year, then Varsity for my last three years. I will be attending the University of Kansas and majoring in mass communications with a minor in either marketing or sports marketing. During my freshman year in college I plan to take dance electives if my schedule allows, as well as continue to take classes at a nearby studio. Dance is a very important aspect of my life that has helped me grow so much as a person. I hope to keep it in my life as long as possible! I look forward to following the upcoming IHSA dance season and seeing all the amazing talent. I am so excited to be apart of the 8CA team to share some of my favorite memories, tips/tricks, and views of the dance world!

High School Team: Tinley Park '16
Hi everyone! I am here to answer everyone’s question, who is @8caMia? My name is Mia Stanek and I am from Tinley Park, Illinois. I am currently a sophomore at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. I have been on the 8 Count Audio staff for a little under a year. Not to mention I absolutely love it! I have been dancing competitively for close to 17 years at T-N-T Extreme Dance Studio. I have taken classes including tap, lyrical, poms, jazz and hip hop. I attended Tinley Park High School and was on their varsity dance team all four years. My junior and senior year, I was named All-Conference athlete in the SSC Conference. Also my senior year, I was captain of the TPHS dance team (@TPHSDANCE) and lead them all the way to IHSA State in 2016. My favorite memory of being on my high school’s dance team was making history on becoming conference champions and making it to state two years in a row! I can not wait to see what the next dance season holds!

High School Team: Lincoln-Way Central '19
College Team: University of St. Francis

High School Team: Naperville Central '19

High School Team: Rolling Meadows '19

High School Team: Waubonsie Valley '19

High School Team: Prairie Ridge '19

High School Team: Oak Forest '14

Molly Owens led the Oak Forest Poms as a two-year captain and an all-conference dancer. After four years on varsity at Oak Forest, she focused her talents on a whirlwind season as part of the St Ambrose University competitive dance team. She's studied all styles of dance and of course became a pom specialist as part of the Oak Forest program. Molly greatly expanded her technical and stylistic range at St. Ambrose with the help of her teammates and coaches. Her team won the 2014-15 NAIA national championship along with an Iowa State Dance Team Championship in the NAIA division. Currently in her sophomore year of college, Molly is majoring in Marketing, Management, and Spanish--yes, all three--earning a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Her love of dance continues and she was part of the SAU Dance Marathon in 2015.

High School Team: Wauconda '13

Mallory Peters competed as a member of Wauconda's JV Dance Team. Her dance background began with studio work at age 8 at Dancer's Pointe / P.S. Dance, where she studied jazz, lyrical, ballet, tap, and a little tumbling. She later served as a teacher and assistant and designed classes in pre-ballet, ballet, and tap for younger dancers. After graduating in 2013 Mallory continued her love of dance at Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she's currently majoring in Communications / Public Relations while also working toward a dance minor. Her 3 years with the UWW Dance Company has kept her busy with weekly workshops that cover a wide variety of dance styles. As her company's homecoming chair, she choreographed a routine that took 2nd place in a campus-wide variety show. Mallory also handles much of the visual content for the Dance Company's social media pages. She can usually be found in the bleachers at dance competitions cheering on her sister.

High School Team: Waubonsie Valley '15

Taylor started her dance career at age 3 at her local park district, advancing to its competition team when she was 9. Always looking for a bigger challenge, she joined Xtreme Dance and competed on their jazz and hip hop competition teams for 3 years. Taylor made varsity as a freshman at Waubonsie Valley, dancing on the team for four years and playing a key part in their rapid rise. She's turned her passion into a job by teaching dance classes at the park district for the past 3 years. Taylor currently studies accounting at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, along with working towards a minor in either finance or IT. Plus she stays busy as an Alpha Chi Omega. Taylor's fave ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip. Animal-wise, the girl loves elephants. Her free time activities include reading, Netflix, and being outside when it's sunny.