Hawkline wins 4th consecutive national title, 3 awards
April 6, 2022
With three years of consecutive wins at Nationals
under their belt, the pressure was on for Hawkline
to come home with another national title.
After months of putting in their blood, sweat and
tears to prepare a routine, they were ready to show
up and show out. And that’s what they did.
Last weekend Hawkline won the D1A Hip Hop
Division award for the fourth consecutive year at
the American Dance/Drill Team Nationals.
But Hawkline didn’t come home with one award,
they came with three— D1A Hip Hop Division first
place, Overall D1A Championship and the Best of
the Best award.
The Best of the Best award is awarded to the team
with the highest scoring routine from the D1A &
D2 categories. According to Daija Essie, Hawkline’s
co-captain, they competed with 13 other teams for
this award.
Kayla Attaway, Hawkline’s head coach, said the
team worked hard to win this title, and “the number
of hours these ladies put in to prepare […] is
mind blowing.”
According to Essien, the work starts over winter
break. They first train to strengthen their bodies,
then a week before spring semester they begin
learning their routine.
It doesn’t end there. Practices are extensive and
hard, usually taking three to four hours per practice
to learn the material. And after they learn it, it’s
time to clean it up and perfect it.
“We never slow down because once you do it’s
over,” Essien said. “I know it’s a lot, but it’s worth it.”
Not only is it worth it for the members, but it’s
worth it for Attaway.
Attaway said once she became a coach she had to
put her trust in the team, but they have made her
job much easier because of the time they’re willing
to put in to be great.
“As a coach, I have to put my trust in my team
and that the hard work that we put in leading up to
competition would reflect how well we did,” Attaway
said. “As their coach, I am proud of them and
the hard work they have put in over the last several
months. No matter the outcome, they know without
a doubt they worked extremely hard to get where
they are today.”
Hawkline will compete on April 6 at the National
Dance Association Collegiate National Championship
in Daytona, Florida.