The 2016-17 De Soto High School Diamonds performed for the last time together at the Spring Show on April 13 in the DHS auditorium.

The Diamonds had mixed feelings about the show because they knew that it would be their last chance to show everyone what they learned this season.

“I was sad that it was our last performance just because we had worked so hard all year, and now it’s over,” sophomore Olivia Mills said.

On the other hand, they also really wanted to show everyone what they had been working on all season.

“I was very excited to show our dances,” sophomore Emma Leonard said. “It shows others how hard we have worked throughout the year and how much time we’ve put into them.”

Throughout the season, the Diamonds were able to win many awards, including the Extra Small Division National Champions title at the American Drill and Dance Team National Competition.

As well as this, they attended two other competitions, Miss Kansas and the Kansas spectacular, and were able to win many other awards, such as placing in the winners circle and receiving the Five Star Shining Star award.

The girls claimed that they could not  have achieved all of this alone and wanted to thank head coach Mckenzi Crow and assistant coach Emily Thayer for all the success they had this season.

“The amount of encouragement they give us and support and the fact that they do so much that they don’t have to do just helps us to know that they’re always there for us,” Mills said.

The team agreed that it was awesome to win so many awards but thought that being able to get to know each other was even better.

“I enjoyed creating really good bonds with the new girls, getting to know them and just spending a lot of time with them,” Leonard said.

Looking ahead, the tryouts for the Diamonds’ 2017-18 team will take place May 1-4, and previous members are looking forward to continuing to grow as a team.

“I’m excited for our team to improve even more next season,” Leonard said. “Everyone is coming back, so I really think we can get a lot better.”