Junior Campbell Hansard is one of the eight girls who will be a Legacy Royal. However, this will be her first time doing something like drill team.

She is not going in completely blind. Hansard has some dancing experience from performing at the Wichita Theater.

“It is the only place I dance since I do not take dance classes,” Hansard said. “It seemed fun and I enjoy dance, so I thought, ‘Why not?’”

Hansard won’t be alone in trying a new path. Both schools will have drill teams next year with Memorial’s group being called the Sapphires.

Hansard currently plays the flute in Rider’s band and will continue doing that at Legacy in addition to being part of the drill team.

“It will be a lot to juggle, but I think I will be able to work it out,” Hansard said. “I will have to put in some extra time. I am very excited. I am just looking forward to having a good time with my friends and doing what I love.”

While Hansard is adding a new activity for the first time, two current Raiderettes are ready for a true drill team and starting new traditions.

Juniors Maegan Roberson and Hannah Roseli have been a part of the Raiderettes for three years and are excited for the start of the coming year. Roberson will be a Legacy Royal, while Roseli will become a Memorial Sapphire.

“We are getting to start new, fresh and we get to start new traditions and we do not get the alumni’s help or anything,” Roseli said. “We are going to be the future of that.”

Both Roberson and Roseli are continuing their time at Legacy and Memorial because of their love of dance, but also to build the organization and to give the schools that fresh start and set the tone of excellence for the generations to come after them.

“We are shifting to a true drill team, and it’s really up to us as a spirit group to set the tone for having that school pride,” Roberson said. “We are not going to start with the same traditions we have here, so it is up to us to advocate for those.”