By Brian Shaw | [email protected]

The Bingham Minerettes drill team joined some rarified air after winning their third straight 6A state championship in February. With their faces smudged and their white tank tops streaked with the appearance of soot and grime to mark their mining namesakes, the Minerettes accomplished something that has only been done once before in school history: a three-peat.

The Minerettes performed three routines that dazzled and awed the crowd at Utah Valley University during the state championships. In each of the three categories, military, dance and show, the ladies displayed their versatility and skill, sweeping the competition with the high score in each category.

“If I could sum up our performances at state in a few words, I would say a lot of heart and soul was left out on the floor that day," said Bingham head coach Erica Cox. “The girls truly went out and fought for what they wanted until the very end of their last routine. The energy they brought was indescribable and I think everyone was able to feel it. They had the precision, the difficulty, and the technique…but at the end of the day their emotion was so strong and tangible, it really shined through.”

While Bingham’s trifecta may be the stuff of legend, this year's three-peat is not an all-together new experience for Bingham. The Minerettes were the 5A champs from 2005 to 2007.

The three straight state titles now rank Cox seventh all-time among all drill team coaches in the state—just two behind Morgan Meredith who won five total titles while she coached the Minerettes between the years 2005 to 2007 and 2011 to 2012. Cox is also eighth all-time among Utah high school drill team coaches who have won consecutive state championships.

“So many people contributed to this team’s success. We were fortunate to have seasoned professionals come in to help critique the routines,” added Cox. “Our Bingham support was indescribable this year…Our alumni is at the heart of this program. And the girls and their perseverance was what got us to that trophy. Without their trust in me as their coach and their ability to keep pushing through difficulty, this win wouldn’t have been possible!” 

Looking forward to 2023, the Minerettes will work hard to continue their streak and bring home the title four years in a row. Cox said the path to this year's state title was not easy, but very worthwhile for her kids.

“This win meant so much to us and we’re so grateful. There were so many challenges thrown our way this season that most would never even know about,” Cox said. “We really had to learn to get up every time something knocked us down, and we got through it all together.  Looking back now, I see that each struggle only made this team that much stronger.” 

In alphabetical order this year’s Minerettes are: Halle Almond, Hailee Anderson, Lexi Barnes, Cambree Bennett, Bostyn Brady, Ashlee Briggs, Berkli Cromar, Madi Finlayson, Maddie Fowlks, Brinley Funes, Sadie Gadd, Chloe Graham, Lexi Hair, Cydnee Halls, Kenzi Hansen, Sophia King, Amanda Lindquist, Hallie Lowrance, Avree Mangum, Maren Marshall, Halee Mecham, Ashlyn Park, Morgan Philips, Cierra Perschon, Macie Praag, Madie Praag, Jade Rutherford, Isabelle Schipaanboard, Jadyn Sommer, Kate Sundloff, Gracie Thomas, Denzyl Vigil, Leah Wagstaff, Halle West and Avery Zrno.