The Varsity Drill Team has won state twice in the past 10 years, in 2010 and 2013.

Pattonville High School English teacher Ms. Katie Funderburk was head coach both times and the victories came unexpectedly for Funderburk.

“Unlike a traditional sport, we don’t have a scoreboard and so our outcomes are based on a collection of opinions,” Funderburk said.

She said that being a coach of a team that wins a state competition is rewarding.

“State is always the culmination of a season of hard work paying off, it’s a time when the teams can celebrate the accomplishments of the season and watch their ultimate goal come to fruition.”

In order to win state, Funderburk said it takes a lot.

“It takes a combination of hard work, daily dedication to better yourself and a team-first attitude coming together in the perfect moment.”

Winning state has changed the way she now coaches her teams. She said that it makes it more difficult to ensure teams base their success on themselves rather than previous teams.

Funderburk is proud to have been the coach of both of these teams

“Being able to leave your mark on your alma mater and knowing that your team’s banner hangs in the gym makes me very proud to be a Pirate.”

Positive School secretary Ms. Kristen Riggs was a member of the 2010 state championship team and is now a current drill team coach. The win and outside work that went into the victory prepared Riggs for stepping into a coaching role within the program.

“It taught me the dedication needed from a team in order to be successful at a state level.”

For Riggs, state was, “a huge payoff for all of the hard work and commitment that all the team members put into it that year.”

“Looking back at the experience, state didn’t really define us as a team because we pushed for each other all year and not only during the state competition. We experienced a lot together throughout the year and winning state was the cherry and sprinkles on top.”