Thanks to the demands of students, the Savage Steppers dance squad has stepped back into the action for football season.

Last year was the first year for Archer City to have a dance squad. Due to popular request, the Steppers have come back for another year of entertaining the fans at pep rallies.

Coach Mallory Mooney, leader and creator of the group, believes that this year will be “a lot better” than last year for the Steppers.

“Practices are more structured than last year,” Coach Mooney said. “We’re able to focus more on learning new routines.”

At the end of the football season last school year, there was a question as to whether or not the Savage Steppers would be back for another season.

“People were asking for us to come back, so we all decided we would,” senior group member Erin McGregor said. “The crew worked really well together and were able to make practices really fun, so deciding on going another year wasn’t really an issue.”

The all-girl team is made up of students from each year in high school. Having lost only two girls from last year and gained two new members, the group continues to stand at ten people, not counting Coaches Mooney and Johnson.

The group practices twice a week. While the Savage Steppers aren’t able to perform every pep rally, they are considering performing for events such as the school’s talent show.

“During the fall season, a lot of the girls are very busy during the week with volleyball practices, so we have limited time to work on our dance routines,” Coach Mooney said. “If the squad is willing to perform for the school’s talent show, I would love to.”

After watching the Savage Steppers perform for one season, freshman Lindy Reid decided that she would take a shot and step onto the mat herself.

“We have to practice more than I thought we would,” Reid said. “It’s worth it, though, because it’s much more enjoyable to do the dances than to watch them from the stands.”

The crew’s dances are choreographed by Coach Mooney. She also makes the songs they dance to.

“Typically, we try to stick with hip-hop because it’s more upbeat and pumps everyone up more,” Coach Mooney said. “The specific songs we play kind of depend on the theme of the pep rally for that week.”