High school drill: South Sevier rules 2A once again behind a dominant, sensational championship performance

The Sensations finished first in all three categories at state

Published: Jan 30, 2026, 11:07 p.m. MST

South Sevier competes at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Tess Crowley, Deseret News

James has been covering high school sports in Utah for the Deseret News for three decades.

The South Sevier Sensations are the queens of the 2A drill mountain once again.

After back-to-back runner-up finishes the past two years, South Sevier dominated the 2A field at UVU on Friday night, sweeping all three categories en route to the title.

Duchesne, which bested South Sevier each of the past two seasons, finished runner-up in all three categories this year behind the Sensations.

“This team’s drive to set high goals and to break both individual and team barriers is what sets them apart and makes this season so special,” said South Sevier coach Deidre Jenkins.

Jenkins said her team’s favorite routine this year was in Dance, to Queen’s “Somebody to Love.”

“The unique style of this song allowed our girls to express their passion for dance and each other,” said Jenkins.

South Sevier celebrates after winning in the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Duchesne competes in the military category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Grand County’s Jaylee O’Donnal, 15, gets ready before the show category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

South Summit competes in the military category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Gunnison Valley competes in the show category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Kanab competes in the show category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

South Summit competes in the show category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Enterprise competes in the show category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Kanab competes in the dance category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

High schoolers compete in the dance category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Enterprise competes in the dance category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Enterprise talks before the start of the show category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Beaver practices for the show category at the 2A drill team state finals at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

The championship was the 14th in school history for South Sevier, which won eight straight from 2014-2021, the third-longest streak in state history.

South Sevier’s last state title came in 2023, when this year’s seniors were freshmen.

“(The seniors) were determined to set the bar high and push themselves and their team to break through some barriers that had been holding them back since their last championship,” said Jenkins.

It showed in the regular season as South Sevier went into the 2A state tournament with a perfect 1.0 RPI ranking after finishing first in their competitions and first in region.

This year’s South Sevier team members are: Ellieanna Bennett, Rachel Child, Kynlee Goble, Bella Hansen, Valarie Hansen, Jozie Hutchings, Layla Jenkins, Jada Jenkins, Makenna Jolley, Allie Keele, Kesslee Keele, Laityn King, Emma Knaphus, Landree Larsen, Halle McKinlay, Bliss Melville, MaCall Monroe, Amilyn Morrill, Briar Palmer, Hadlee Parsons, Violet Parsons, Madison Phelps, Emma Pieper, Paysley Pieper, Allison Riddle, Madison Riddle, Saylor Riddle, Sayla Smith, Matti Sorensen, Kessler Staples, Prezlee Tobler, Gracie Winegar, Eva Wirick and Tessa Woolsey.

Assistant coaches along with Jenkins are Lisa Shaver and Shauna Blake.

For the Keele family, Friday’s championship continues a long legacy of Sensational champs. Freshman Allie Keele won her first title with South Sevier, as did her sister, junior Kesslee Keele.

They join their four older sisters, Kylee Keele, Taylee Keele, Bailey (Chang) and Whitney (Johnson) who also previously won state titles with the program over the past 14 years. Kylee Keele won the first title for the family as a freshman in 2012.

Current South Sevier assistant coach Shauna Blake, who was a head coach during one point, has coached all six girls over a span of 22 years from when including her time teaching them dance high school.

“We’re incredibly proud of the team, the coaching staff, and the South Sevier drill program,” said Kylee Keele, the oldest of the six siblings.