Athlete of the Week: Morris senior Isabelle Hess

MORRIS — Isabelle Hess is one of three seniors on the Morris competitive dance team that won its eighth consecutive sectional championship Saturday at the Normal Community Class 1A Sectional. Hess and the Redskins compete at the state finals at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington this weekend, where Morris has finished second in Class 1A for the last four seasons.

MHN: Is your song, the a capella I'll Be There" by Jess Glynne, hard to dance to?

Hess: It is harder, because there is no music or beat to go off of. We have to go off of the words.

MHN: Is your group close?

Hess: Yes, we are. We are with each other all the time. Not only at practices or competitions, we hang out together in and out of school. We have all danced together for a long time and I think that helps relay the story and message that's in our dance this year. We bond a lot. We have learned over the years that it's better to be friends on the team than have a lot of drama.

MHN: So no one gets upset, thinking they should be doing something else in the routine?

Hess: Not at all. There's no jealousy at all. Everyone understands what is best for the team and we do what it takes to make it better. It's a constant conversation. Even before practice or in school, we will talk about the routine and stuff.

MHN: What are you looking forward to at state?

Hess: The first night, hopefully we will open our fun gifts and go over the routine and have a walkthrough. On Friday, we want to go out and give 110 percent and try to make it to Day 2. There are 30 teams there and only 12 will make it to Day 2. If we make it to Day 2, then we hope to give our best performance and hope it works out that we get first place.

MHN: What will you remember about your experience with the team?

Hess: Just the complete family aspect of it. Any one of my teammates is like my biological sister. We are that close. I know I can go to with any of the girls with anything. Also, ever since I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be a Mprris pom. It is great to part of this legacy