St. Charles North’s drill team practiced in the school cafeteria after classes in the hopes of delivering in a venue designed to accommodate the movement and acoustics of competitive dance.

With their arms locked and their voices hoping to scream, North still learned of Saturday’s triumphs at the Team Dance Illinois state championships at Peoria’s Carver Arena with bated breath.

“Everyone always asks that question about expectations whenever we get back from state, and every year it’s a nail-biter,” North Stars senior Allie Isabelli said. “You never know what the judges are going to do. There’s a lot of shaking and crunched hands, but you kind of accept that whatever happens, happens and you put your best foot on the floor.”