McAlester’s Ava Friestad – Dance Spotlight – Presented by Fenton Nissan

When the spotlight shines on a competition floor, Ava Friestad reminds herself that the journey matters as much as the performance. “When I step on the floor for a performance, I assure myself that all of our hard practice was for this moment and to just have fun,” she said.

That mindset has carried her through years of dedication to McAlester’s Pom team. As a senior, Friestad is focused on enjoying every chance she has left in uniform. “With this being my senior year, my goal is to make the most out of every moment, savoring them while I still have them with my best friends, teammates, coaches and family,” she shared.

Despite heavy roster changes, the Buffaloes haven’t lost their spirit. “Even though we lost eight seniors this past year, our team morale remains positive,” Friestad explained. “Our team continues to be extremely hard working and encouraging to each other. We have done several team bonding activities that have made us a very close team, and we are already working towards this year’s competitions.”

Stepping into a leadership role has been a highlight for Friestad this year. “One of the biggest improvements I’ve seen from the team started with myself and our other two seniors,” she said. “We’re really stepping up and working hard to be the best leaders we can be this year for the rest of our team.”

The team has also set a unique challenge that keeps them pushing forward. “A new goal we’re doing is 101 full outs,” she said. “We have a chart that counts to 101, and after each time we do a routine full out, we’ll mark one out. Our end goal is to complete the chart before UDA Nationals at the end of January.”

What makes the group special, Friestad believes, is the trust they’ve built. “I think one of the team’s biggest strengths right now is that we really support one another,” she said.

Still, some moments rise above the rest. “Definitely winning the state championship in both 5A Hip Hop and 5A Pom my sophomore year,” she recalled. “And then one month later we placed 4th in DII Game Day at UDA Nationals in Orlando, Florida, which was a huge accomplishment for our program.”

Looking ahead, Friestad is preparing for her future beyond McAlester. “I plan to attend Oklahoma State University with a major in interior design,” she said.