Get to Know: Your Championship-Bound Oak Forest High School Varsity Poms Team

You know them from their performances at home football games and home basketball games. You might have even seen them at special events such as community fairs.

Now, 's Varsity Poms team is taking its show on the road—to Disney World.

The 16-member dance team qualified for the Universal Dance Association's National Dance Team Championship to be held Feb. 4-5, 2012 at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

The team performed its qualifying routine at a summer camp at Northern Illinois University over the summer, said poms coach Jen Klockowski. The girls took two months to develop and fine tune the routine, which also earned Oak Forest second place of 10 teams at the camp, and the qualifying score.

The girls hold the routine—and the chance to perform it against national competitors—close to their hearts. It's the first dance they've choreographed themselves.

Over the next few months, the team will practice the routine until it's ready to go for the competition at Disney World—and the team needs your help getting there.

The Oak Forest Poms squad will hold its Shop, Swap and Sell fundraiser Sept. 25 at the school. The event will include vendors, crafters and shoppers looking to sell or trade their belongings. Vendors currently signed up include Miche Bags, Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Canyon Candle, Scentry, Tupperware, Party Lite and more. Five garage sales are set to open during the event, with room for more. Each space at the swap-o-rama is $25 (you can find the application attached).

And don't forget to check out the girls' kick routine in our exclusive Patch video!

The team includes: Monica Plukarski, Nichole Hill, Stephanie Schramm, Shannon McNamara, Kaya Fitzsimons, Brittany Schramm, Karina Garza, Holly Schwertfeger, Taylor Scholtens, Manon Mischeck, Molly Owens, Katie Scheidt, Desiree Rodriguez, Carolyn LoRusso, Britta Beardsley and Jessica Jager.

For more information on the sale, contact Sue at 708-299-3597 or at sue.schmitz@crowncork.com.