Inspired by cyclist David Freeze’s journey from Maine to Florida, local athletes Trudy Gale, Carol Hauss and Susan Moore participated in the Lake Norman Excursion bicycle ride in Mooresville, on Saturday, July 12.
The group rode 65 miles with more than 1,000 other cyclists who came out to ride for racecar driver Jimmie Johnson’s Foundation.
Hosted by Lowe’s Corporation, the ride was extremely difficult at times covering some tough and long hills throughout Iredell and Rowan Counties, however, the cyclists were rewarded at the end of a hard day’s work with ice cream provided by one of the ride’s sponsors, Blue Bunny Ice Cream.
China Grove — Dancers from Center Stage Dance Company recently were crowned overall national champions for Encore DCS 2014 held in Savannah, Ga. The five day event concluded on June 25 with a Standing Ovation showdown between the top ten routines for the competition. At the end of the event, the dancers in a routine that featured every competition dancer from Center Stage were awarded the six foot trophy and prizes.
In addition to winning the Standing Ovation Award for the second year in a row, the number “Come Out Swingin’” received a diamond placement award in the highest level of competition in the elite level and finished as the top junior production for the event.
Junior soloist Parker Stelmack was first overall in the junior elite solo division for the event.
The small teen large group, Anti Twerk, was selected to compete in the Standing Ovation showdown. This group received a diamond award during the competition phase and finished first overall for elite large groups.
The duet of Parker Stelmack and Dillon Stevens were undefeated for the entire year at all regional competitions and finished first overall in the elite teen duet trios for national competition this year, receiving a diamond award.
Soloist Hannah Stevens received a diamond award for her lyrical open solo, ranking first overall in the elite teen soloist division. Soloist Allyson Howard returned with a diamond award for her jazz category solo and finished third overall for the week.
Soloists Dillon Stevens and Paige Hartsell were awarded diamond awards for their senior solos, ranking second and third overall for the week.
Junior soloist Meredith Gaskill received a diamond award for her national performance, ranked fifth overall and received special judges recognition with the L.A. Bound Award.
The Center Stage dancers were accompanied to Savannah for the event by staff members Sydney Overcash, Katherine O’Dell, Jonathan Matthews, Sammie Abernathy, and Sandy Overcash. To view some of the top numbers at national competition, visitt www.centerstagedc.com