With their boots reverberating in unison on the ground, people know the Eastside Precision Drill Team is coming their way.
The Redmond-based group struts its stuff when performing at Derby Days parades and in Seattle Drill Team Association all-city and Fraternal Order of Eagles state competitions. The girls often roll out their military style formations to only the sounds of their boots and their captain calling commands, but at some events they combine drill and dance with music filling the air.
It’s a solid group of 10 members — ages 7 to 18 — which took first place at the Washington State Eagles Youth Dance Drill Team championships at the end of June in Moses Lake.
Coach Jennifer Wilkins said drill team members are precise and unified in everything they do, from marching with knees high, to arm movements, to turns, to feet clacking while creating different sound patterns.
In describing drill, Wilkins said you take ROTC and cheer and “you smash them together.”
The independent and nonprofit Eastside Precision Drill Team — which has been in existence since 2007 — is part of the 12-squad Seattle Drill Team Association, featuring teams from Redmond, Seattle, Everett and Burien. Eastside’s members are from Redmond, Sammamish and Bothell.
The coach’s daughter and second-year captain Emily Wilkins, 15, from Sammamish said she sets an example while leading the team, and part of her job is “making sure that you’re working as a team.”
“Drill is a wonderful experience where you get to be with girls you know, get to march in parades and do a bunch of fun activities,” said officer Elizabeth Jie-Sarinian, 12, from Redmond. “It’s challenging at first, but if you practice and work hard, then you would reach your goals and achieve everything you can do.” Elizabeth’s twin sister Emily is also part of the team, which practices at the back of Redmond Elementary School by the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center field.
Jennifer participated in drill from ages 12 to 20 in Seattle’s Ballard area and has been coaching the sport for the last 25 years.
“It was just something that clicked with me,” said Jennifer, who has watched her daughter mature, gain confidence and turn into a great leader through drill. With drill, the girls have fun, develop friendships, self-confidence and self-respect, the coach said.
“You can’t just bark orders at people and expect them to respond and respect you. You have to earn it and set an example. They’re real-life things that you use in your work life and we try to point that out to the girls,” Jennifer said.
Redmond’s Giny Hart, 11, said that she was looking for a sport to play, and a friend recommended she try drill.
“I went to a practice and checked it out and it was pretty cool because it was different from other sports,” she said, noting that there is no ball involved and no goals to score. “You use your arms, your full body and give it your all.”
For information, visit www.eastsidedrillteam.com and https://www.facebook.com/EastsidePrecisionDrillTeam.
