Also, dance soloists Clarissa Koga, Sasha Dee Dayoan and Alyson Shoji each placed first in their respective age group divisions (11th and up, 7th, and 4th grades), with Koga and Dayoan receiving the highest point totals of the competition.

Koga and Dayoan competed in a second event, the Odyssey Dance Competition in Ogden, again placing first in their respective solo dance categories.

In January, Drill Team Hawai'i's high school team placed fourth in the large varsity pom, and sixth in the large varsity jazz divisions at the 2005 National Dance Team Championships in Orlando, Fla. The finals will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Drill Team Hawai'i is a performance dance team that blends choreography, dance techniques and gymnastics skills. The team is composed of 100 girls from various schools around O'ahu, and it regularly performs at local sporting and variety events, including University of Hawai'i football games.

Junior Miss Drill Team Dance Spectacular

At Salt Lake City, Utah

March 18-19

Mini Ensemble Division, first place. Also awarded Overall Best Professional Team. Team members: Taryn Miyake, Taylor Onizuka, Tara Salima, Caylie Shiramizu, Alyson Shoji, Kiki Takahashi (second through fourth grade).

Junior Lyrical Division, first place. Junior Jazz Division, first place. Team members: Bethany Au, Corissa Kanei, Brianna Burnett, Kelcey Ann Chung, Sasha Dee Dayoan, Kimilyn Goshi, Kyllie Hiura, Shelise Ikari, Stacy Lau, Courtney Lelepali, Chelsea Muroda, Noelani Nagamine, Jacie Ann Okamoto, Laurie Sasaki, Kim Takinami, Jennifer Takushi, Mikki Tsuchida, Shelby Wong. (fifth through eighth grade).

Fourth grade soloist, first place, Alyson Shoji.

Seventh grade soloist, first place, Sasha Dee Dayoan (also recognized for second highest points total of competition).

Eleventh grade and up soloist, first place, Clarissa Koga (also recognized for highest points total of competition).

Sportsmanship Award: Drill Team Hawaii.

Odyssey Dance Competition

At Ogden, Utah

March 19

Seventh grade soloist, first place, Sasha Dee Dayoan (also recognized for third highest points total of entire competition).

Twelfth grade and up soloist, first place, Clarissa Koga.

TRAMPOLINE

Vercruyssen captures Scandinavian title

Nani Vercruyssen took first place in the 17 years and younger girls division of the 29th Scandinavian Open trampoline competition in Haslev, Denmark, last week.

She was one of three from Hawai'i who competed in the event that featured 90 athletes from nine European countries and the United States.

Nani Vercruyssen, 13, seventh-grader from Kaimuki Middle School, won first place for the 17 and younger girls division. Again improving on her personal best marks, Her score would have placed her in third in the open (senior) women's division.

Kelsen Onigama, 10, fourth-grader from Our Redeemer Elementary School, placed fifth in the 14 and younger boys division. First through fourth places went to national champions from Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Matt Moniz, 17, 'Aiea High School, placed 11th in the senior elite open men's division against outstanding world-level talent that included the winner, Peter Jensen, the Denmark Olympian. In his second competition as a senior elite and his second international event, Moniz improved upon his personal best and almost made it into finals.