Out of around 100 dancers trying out, only about 34 make it. Only about 34 will wear the red, white, and blue uniforms. Just 34 will get to be a part of what was the original college drill team. Just 34 will join the Kilgore Rangerettes, a world traveling dance group. This prestigious, elite-level team has been the dream of senior Kadielyn Kopil since she was three years old and watching her aunt perform as a Rangerette. Kopil hopes to follow in her footsteps.
Coming from Prosper High School to complete her senior year at Richland, the Raider Revel captain has always wanted to dance. This has been her goal for over a decade. Kopil will try out for the Rangerettes on June 10th through the 12th, but won’t find out if she made the team until June 13th. It could all come down to one moment, one dance. The stress of this, though, and handling regular captain responsibilities, can be a lot for anyone.
“As the captain, I get stressed a lot, just because there’s a lot that relies on me,” Kopil said. “I think more than people realize. I just have to remind myself why I do it, because at the end of the day I do it because I love to dance.”
Loving to dance has been her motivation for most things she does. Even when she tried other things, or got involved in other activities, she still gravitated back to dance.
“I think I played volleyball in first grade and soccer when I was little, but I just danced on the sidelines,” Kopil said. “I think even if I try to do other things, I always find a way to dance.”
Kopil has been dancing all her life, and hopes to continue to dance in her future, not only for Kilgore, but as a drill team director after she graduates. While she has considered other careers, dance is her passion.
“I thought about being a therapist,” Kopil said. “I was diagnosed with anxiety. I’ve had some pretty impactful therapists, so I’ve always wanted to serve people that way, but I think dance is where it’s at for me.”
Practicing roughly 18 hours a week at classes and a dance academy, Kopil’s schedule is packed. Balancing schoolwork, outside of school and in school commitments, as well as NHS can be a struggle. But Kopil uses calendars and other strategies to stay ahead.
“I try to compartmentalize my day and not take on too much at one time,” Kopil said. “I try to take it one day at a time.”
Kopil’s favorite part of dance is being on stage and telling a story. But now that her senior year is beginning to come to a close, she reminds her younger teammates to not take it for granted.
“There will never be anyone else that gets to say they did it first,” Kopil said. “We’re making history. When it gets hard, just remember that no one else gets to do it. This is such an honor.”
Although leaving her friends, teachers, and familiarity to come to a new school might be a frightening thought for some, after a lot of debilitating, she decided to take the risk.
“I left because I just felt like for some reason I needed to be here,” Kopil said. “I could hate everything here, but I decided to come anyway. And then I was blessed with two directors who were former Rangerettes, and felt even more that I needed to be here.”
Being captain, almost nineteen years of dancing practice, dedicated coaches, and a rigorous training regimen will all come to down to one last tryout, one last dance of her senior year. The dance of a lifetime. But even though she has some doubts, Kopil will still prepare and do her best.
“What if I don’t make it is always really hard,” Kopil said. “This is a dream I’ve had my entire life. But it will be okay, my life will not end, the world will not blow up. Everything happens for a reason. There is a greater plan, and if this year is not my year I understand, but I’m going to do everything I can to prepare.”
Through dancing, Kopil hopes to achieve her life ambitions. She wants to go from Raider Revel captain to Kilgore Rangerette, and all for one purpose.
“During my speech, I mentioned why I wanted to be a Revel,” Kopil said. “I want to make a difference and I want to be a part of something that makes a difference.”
