Lady Raiders, ERHS girl’s step team, left a strong mark at pep rally for the student body, but there’s no rest for these girls because their step season is right around the corner in January.

Senior captain Anisa Sloan led warm-ups consisting of running laps with the co-captains Senior Destiny Talley and junior Ashley Magruder.

The captains explained how much time and energy they invest in the step team. They practice Tuesday and Thursday, and they have conditioning in the weight room on Wednesday.

As a result of their commitment, the members feel that their team is a sport.

“We put in just as much time as any other sports team here,” Sloan said.

She continued, “I take a lot of physical excursion, that’s why we practice over the summer. Dedication is Key! We are the #1 all-female step team in the DMV area. We haven’t lost to any other female step team in competition yet.”

The team won first place at a regional competition against the North-East region step teams in May 2012, and were invited to nationals, which they didn’t attend for financial reasons.

Talley explained the dedication and commitment that go into the team.

“Once a lady raider always a lady raider … there is a bond between us, we do everything together. The bond never goes away, even the past lady raiders come back and watch the new steppers ”said Talley.

As the team practiced, the boys step team’s practice echoed from across the hall into the girls practice.

“We are a sport, we are actually up there just like the boys, we are on top as well. We are just as good as any other team in this school. We work harder than any other sport and our dedication level is higher” said Magruder.