Everyone knows our award-winning drill team, the Highlandettes! But what exactly do they do on game days? 

Before Game Day

It takes about 2-3 weeks of rehearsals before they perform a dance during halftime. 

“That’s about 10-15 rehearsals that are two hours each,” said Hayes Wilcox (12), the Highlandette captain. 

To prepare for each game, they have an extensive packing list to ensure that they have all the necessary supplies. It includes a poncho, cowbell, water jug, pom poms, stadium seats, uniform, and lipstick. 

Before School on Game Day

The Highlandettes have to have hair and makeup done prior to attending field practice with the band. Field practice starts at 6:45 a.m., which means that they usually have to wake up around 5:30 a.m. in order to have hair and makeup ready for the pep rally. The band plays the music for their halftime performance, so they rehearse with the band every game day. 

During School

The Highlandettes perform at the pep rally at 9:00 a.m. They rehearse the halftime performance during the Highlandette class period and then change into their game day outfit, which is what they wear for the whole school day. 

“The game day outfit is a black skirt, the game day T-shirt, and the team tennis shoes,” said Eden Genova (12), the 1st lieutenant. 

After School

They have 45 minutes to an hour to get ready for the game. They complete a roll call in the dance studio to check attendance and supplies. If any are missing, then they receive a demerit, which is the program’s way of tracking consequences. If a Highlandette has too many, they risk getting expelled from the program. 

After roll call, they play a team building game and get cookies before the game starts. They walk to the stadium with their backpacks, water jugs, stadium seats, poms, and cowbells. 

Before the Game

A volunteer dad and one girl from each rank sells football programs in front of the stadium. 

“Each officer has a group of girls and each group is called a rank,” Wilcox explained. 

The rest of the team goes to their P-line, which is a tunnel they create for the football players to run through. In the P-line, they do a series of ripple dances. 

During the Game

The Highlandettes go up to the bleachers for the first and second quarter and do stand dances. They correspond with the stand tunes that the band plays behind them. The Highlandettes go down to the side of the field in the middle of the second quarter to warm up, stretch, mark through their halftime performance, and do their prayer circle. 

The Halftime Performance

During home games, the opposing team’s drill team and band will perform first, so the Highlandettes stand on the side of the field to watch their performances and support them. When it’s their turn to perform, they enter the field to the band playing “Conquest,” and the announcer introduces each officer. They perform their halftime routine and exit to the Lake Highland’s Fight Song. After they perform, they stand to the side of the field and watch the band show. 

After Halftime

They go back up to the stands for the third and fourth quarter to do stand dances. When the game is over at around 10 p.m., they gather their belongings and go home.