Jump, kick, swish, swirl – meet a Highland Park High School staple: the Poms team! HPHS Poms is a spirited and high-energy dance team that performs synchronized routines using pom-poms to lead cheers, support school athletics, and showcase school spirit. Led by Coach Kristen Blair, who has been coaching at HP since 2013, Poms performs at every home football game, basketball game, and pep rally. As the team continues to uphold decades of tradition, current members are building memories of their own.
Senior captain Sydney Lieberman speaks passionately about the sense of community she’s found in Poms. One memory stands out above the rest: “Jumping with [her] teammates in a clump in the center of the court during last year’s senior night” — a cherished pre-dance ritual. For any dancer thinking about joining Poms, Lieberman suggests “being super confident and trying your best to stretch every day,” as hard work tends to pay off when it comes to tryouts. In her eyes “a typical Poms practice looks like rehearsing and cleaning a routine for a game or learning new dances. However, there is always time for team bonding games and to show off our skills for fun!”
Similarly, junior Eden Gunsberg describes the team atmosphere as “super enthusiastic and driven.” “We have fun, of course,” she says, “but when we are preparing for a game, everyone is super locked in so we can look the best on the field.” She also praises seniors like Lieberman, as “one thing most people don’t know about being on Poms is that the seniors do so much. Not only do they choreograph the dances, but they also organize all team dinners, create fun bonding activities for us, and cultivate the overall atmosphere of the team.”
Offering a glimpse into one of the team’s many bonding traditions, Gunsberg shares details about “Secret Pom Pom Pal,” or SPPP. “It’s a Secret Santa-style activity we do before almost every football game,” she explains. “Basically, you are assigned another member of the team, and then it is your job to buy them a fun gift from HP Tops before almost every upcoming game. After receiving many gifts over the weeks, your Secret Pom Pom Pal is revealed to you at the last game of the season!” Traditions like SPPP highlight just one of the many ways the team fosters connection and camaraderie beyond their practices.
While sophomore Harper Moschin was first drawn to Poms by her passion for dance, it’s the community she found that truly made it meaningful. “When I was younger, I used to go to the Poms and Jammers Charity Drive clinic, and ever since then, I thought it was the coolest thing,” she says. “As I got older, I started hearing about all the close friendships you build with your teammates, and that’s what has made this experience so special.”
Like Moschin and the majority of the girls she coaches, Coach Blair has also danced her entire life. She admits that “dance has always been something that [she] loves and finds beauty in.” “When I was asked to coach Poms, I was excited to pass my knowledge and love of dance onto the next generation of dancers,” she shares.
Coach Blair fondly recalls one of her most memorable moments with the team: “One year, my seniors wanted me to dance with them at their senior night… I did the iconic poms pass and kickline with them. It was such a fun experience to share my seniors’ last dance with them!”
Reflecting on how her coaching style has evolved over time, Coach Blair notes how her “approach has changed as students have changed.” “I think I am a lot more flexible with students now,” she expresses. “There was a time when I would have said that a student had to choose one [activity]. Now I try to find a way for students to participate in multiple extracurricular activities. High school is short, and students should enjoy it and try new things!”
While the performances may only last a few minutes, the memories made through Poms last a lifetime. For many, Poms becomes more than just a high school extracurricular – it becomes a second family and a place for every dancer to grow.
