Pleasant Grove Drill Team Wins First State Title Ever

For three straight years, Pleasant Grove's drill team was really good but never quite good enough, finishing fifth in Utah's toughest 6A division. This year, competing against schools closer to their size in 5A, the Vikettes finally broke through with something no Pleasant Grove drill team has ever achieved: a state championship.

The team won first place in both Dance and Show categories Saturday night at Utah Valley University, dethroning defending champion Bountiful. It was the crowning moment of a season built around one powerful theme: legacy.

"Coming into 5A and a new division we wanted to make our mark," said coach Sami Jo Carson. "We wanted to continue the legacy that came before us and pave a new path forward."

The Vikettes entered the state tournament ranked second in the state, just behind Viewmont. But they believed from day one they could win, and that confidence grew with every round of competition.

Bountiful put up a strong fight, taking first in military and second in dance to finish as overall runner-up. Spanish Fork, Viewmont, and West Field rounded out the top five.

Why This Inspires

What makes this victory special isn't just the trophy. It's how the team got there: holding each other accountable, pushing each other to improve, and believing in a shared goal bigger than any individual performance.

"Every girl on this team played a role in making this dream happen," Carson said. The coach emphasized how her athletes supported each other both on the competition floor and in their daily lives throughout the season.

After years of being the underdog in a division stacked with larger schools, Pleasant Grove found success by embracing a fresh start. They didn't just compete, they created something historic for their school and future teams to build on.

The Vikettes showed that sometimes the path to victory means finding the right fit and never losing faith in the work you're putting in.