Julie is completing her 37th year as the director of the West High Dance Squad. She stared one year after West High School opened. Julie received a B.A. degree from the University of Northern Iowa, an M.A. from the University of South Dakota, and an Educational Speicalist degree from the University of South Dakota.

Julie taught mathematics at West High for 35 years. She is currently a home school teacher working with students K-12. She is a member of the Dance and Drill Team Directors of America, serves as the District 1 representative for the Iowa State Drill Board of Directors, past president of the Iowa State Drill Team Association (ISDTA), past vice president of the ISDTA, and is currently secretary of the ISDTA.

Nationally she is a DTDA board member of Dance/Drill Team Directors of America, and a recipient of Iowa State Drill Team Association Lifetime Award for drill team directors. She also received her certification for judging DDTDA and judges drill teams both locally and nationally. Julie has twice been voted as one of the "Top Ten Directors in the USA" at National Drill Team Director Covention.

Julie DeGroot, along with Amy DeGroot and Michaelle Sullivan, directs, choreographs and is responsible for the instruction of the WHDS teams.

Amy DeGroot-Hammer

Amy is the daughter of Julie DeGroot. Amy is a 1987 graduate of West High School, was a member and captain of the Westettes Drill Team and helped to form the West High Dance "Competition Squad" in 1986-87.

Amy attended Cornell College and was a member and captain of the Ram Pom Squad for four years. After graduating in 1991 with a degree in Elementary Education, Amy attended and graduated from the University of South Dakota with an M.A. degree in K-12 School Counseling.

Amy served as an elementary counselor for eleven years in South Sioux City, Nebraska and Sioux City, Iowa. She is currently employed as the "A-F" high school counselor at West High. The 2009-2010 school year will be her 7th year as a high school counselor.

Amy is a member of the Iowa State Dance/Drill Team Association and the Dance/Drill Team Directors of America. She is a certified coach as well as adjudicator. She formed the Sioux City Sweethearts Junior Dance Team in 1995 to provide an opportunity for younger students who were interested in participating in dance/drill team.

Amy has been a volunteer with the West High Dance Squad since 1992 working primarlity with music selection, choreography, and instructional aspects of the team. Amy received her doctoral degree in School Administration in December 2002.

Michaelle Sullivan

Michaelle is a graduate of West High School and was a member and captain of the West High Dance Squad. Following graduation, Michaelle was a dancer for the Sioux City Attack and Sioux City Bandits Football teams. Currently Michaelle is a head instuctor for the Sioux City Sweethearts Elementary and Junior Dance Teams.

Michaelle has been a part of the West High Dance Squad since her graduation in 1997 and is well known for her choreography in military, kick, and light routines.

Michaelle is also known for her quiet but dedicated manner and is greatly appreciated by all of us that have the opportunity to work with her. Michaelle is employed at West High as an instructional assistant in office at West High School.

Jody Kennedy

Jody, a graduate of West High School, was a member and captain of the West High Dance Squad. Jody received her degree from Iowa State University and was on the Iowa State Pom Squad. She also received her masters degree from Briar Cliff University in the summer of 2005.

She is currently employed as a mathematics teacher at West High School.

Jody has been helping for the past ten years since she returned to Sioux City and is a great addition to the staff.

Complete History of West High Dance
The first Sioux City West High Drill Team began when the building opened in 1972. The team performed with the band on the football field for half-time shows as well as for the half-times of the basketball games. Their routines consisted primarily of footwork, floor patterns, and marching.

The team continued to grow and evolve over the years through experience and opportunities such as summer camps and clinics.

In the 1986-1987 school year, after years of performing for home crowds, and entering small competitions, the team decided to form a "competition" squad. The group decided that the team would be comprised of those team members who desired a higher level of competition and had the experiences and skills with which to be competitive.

Formerly known as the "Westettes Drill Team" - the team decided to refer to their competition squad as the "West High Dance Squad". The squad had no money for additional competition uniforms and so they began by wearing black nylons and white oxford shirts - competing their first routine emulating Tom Cruise in the movie "Risky Business" to the tune of "Old Time Rock & Roll". The squad was very well received and from that year on the West High Dance Squad continued to grow and evolve.

The team quickly emerged as one of the best in the state finding their place among their favorite categories: light, pom and dance.

The West High Dance Squad has attained success at both the state and national levels. They are the reigning Iowa State Champions in the Pom Category, taking home First Place trophies at the 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, and 2001 state contests and receiving Second Place in 1999 and 2002 and third place in 2003.

They are the Iowa State Champions in the Light Category taking home First Place trophies at the 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 state contests and receiving Second Place in 1999.

They are also the Iowa State Champions in the Dance Category taking home First Place trophies in 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2001 and receiving Second Place trophies in 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2002, and 2003. They were third in lyrical in 2000.

In the spring of 1995, the Iowa State Dance/Drill Team Association voted to allow schools to compete two varsity teams at the state level, provided they do not compete against each other in the same divisions. As a result of this decision, the West High Directors voted to form another varsity squad in the summer and fall of 1995. This newly formed group enjoyed entering two new categories at the 1996 State Competition wearing their new black and gold uniforms. The squad was very successful in competition and received two First Place trophies in the Military and Hoopla divisions. The teams continued to win the State Championship titles in military in 1997, 1999, and 2000 and they also received second in 1998 and third in 2001 and 2002. Hoopla state championship titles were won in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

They reached within and entered a category called Prop. They emerged with a First Place trophy and with a spread of 50 points in 1997 and won the state championship title in 1998.

Dance/Drill Team is not only for young women, however. It has also become popular for young men. It was during the 1986-97 school year that the first-ever West High Co-Ed and All-Male Drill Team performed for home pep assemblies. These young men were very well received and performed to "King Tut" and "Superbowl (Wolverine) Shuffle."

The Iowa State Dance/Drill Team Association recognized the interest of the young men across the state and created the "Co-Ed/Specialty" Category in 1990. Many teams got involved, and West High was no exception. The Co-Ed/Specialty squad has entered this division wearing poodle skirts and received the First Place nod with 66 students performing to 70's music and a backdrop of a Giant Boom Box.


At the 1997 Contest it was all eyes on Sioux City West High! The crowd and judges response was nearly better than the trophies themselves. West High Directors, Parents, and Students of the Dance Squad from the Pink, Green, Coed and All Male, brought home eight state championship titles in Pom, Military, Light, Prop, Hoopla, Dance, All Male, and Coed. The squad brought the audience and judges to their feet with their renditions of "American Bandstand" and "The Train".

1998 brought the squad back to Veterans Auditorium to defend their titles in all eight categories. All 96 team members, the WDS Paw Partners and Directors worked extremely hard and put on spectacular routines for the judges and spectators. They were rewarded by receiving First Place trophies in Coed, Dance, Hoopla and Military. They received Second Place trophies in Pom, Light and Novelty. The All Male squad came in fourth in their division. In addition, the squad received the academic plaques again for maintaining distinguished and excellent grade point averages as a team.

2000 State Competition was held at Vets the traditional first weekend in December. West High Dance Squad traveled with 95 members this year. Each year the Squad, Paw Partners and Directors use what seems to be a never ending source of enthusiasm and tradition to pull off another great competition. This year the Pom, Light, Hoopla, Military and Coed Squad achieved First Place trophies. Novelty and All Male brought home Second Place and a new entry for the Pink Squad this year was Lyrical, where the squad received a third place trophy.

2001 was again a year to remember for the record books...the 2001 State Competition was held at Vets and this year we traveled with 88 members. Once again we had a very successful year and felt that our routines were the best ever. West High Dance Squad got first places in Pom, Jazz, Hoopla, Novelty, Light and Coed. Our light routine received a standing ovation from the audience! Military and all male received third place trophies.

2002 was another great year with wonderful routines. We got first places in Hoopla, Light, Novelty, All Male and Coed and Second Place in Pom and Dance and third place in Military. In addition to the scholarship plaques, the team won the Service Project Award for their outstanding service to the community. This was a great honor and we are very proud of this award.

2003 was a great year with exciting and creative routines. Over the past years the dance teams have entered 82 state routines and have earned 62 state championships, 14 runner-up titles, 5 thirds and 1 fourth. The Prop Dads have been with us all the way and again provided the team with their props, the trailer, and all of the things that were required to prepare the team for travel. We have enjoyed another year of the WDS Storage Shed and it has become a gathering place to construct the wonderful backdrops that once adorned many of our homes. Glitter takes on a new meaning when you are living with it. Growth, commitment, love and direction is where it is at and what has provided this team with the basis for success. "Team Paw"..."Together Everyone Achieves Miracles, Positive Attitudes Win"! DUCKS! "Dreaming the Unbelievable Creates the Key to Success.


2004 was a new year for the dance squad. This year we were able to enter nine routines and we were very successful in all nine of them. The team received 7 first place trophies, 1 second place, and 1 third place. The "Judges Choice" of an outstanding routine for the day was given to the Show Production Salsa routine. Our props and backdrops were outstanding and the costuming was beautiful thanks to all of the parents, family, and friends that helped with this production. In addition to our dance awards, we received the "Community Service Award" for our volunteering off the dance floor.

2005 was another great year for the dance squad. This year we were able to enter nine routines and we were very successful in all nine of them. We received 7 state championships and 2 runner-up titles. We also received the Judges Choice for the outstanding routine of the day performed by the all male squad. Our props and backdrops were outstanding and the costuming was beautiful thanks to all the parents, family and friends that helped with the production. If you are not involved you don't understand all the hard work and countless hours of time that are donated in order to costume our students and provide their back drops. The team has now entered 100 state routines and have earned 77 state championship titles, 15 runner-up titles, 6 thirds and 1 fourth.

2006 we were able to enter nine routines at state and we were very successful. We received 7 state championships and 2 runner-up titles. We also received the judges' choice for the outstanding routine of the day performed by the all male squad and the community service award. Our props and backdrops were outstanding and the costuming was beautiful thanks for all the parents, family and friends that helped with the production. There are countless hours of time and hard work that are donated in order to costume our students and provide their back drops. We need ALL of you to be involved next year.

Be A Part of The West High Dance Squad
We have great leaders and committed dancers, but the squad would not survive without the countless hours of dedication from parents and others who volunteer their time and efforts to assist with the several needed committees.

From the World Renouned Prop Dads and Dancing Moms, to those that sew, fundraise, make calls, and so much more.

If you would like to be a part of this great program and volunteer your time and talents be sure to contact us. There are 3 tabs on this web site that give details on Prop Dads, sewing, and other committees.