Five decades of Blinn College dancers converged inside the Blinn College-Brenham Campus Student Center on Saturday for the program's 50th anniversary celebration.
A total of 88 former and current Blinn dancers and their families exchanged memories and took a united trip down memory lane as the event celebrated the program's origins and championship dominance.
"It's just really fun to see the ladies from the very first team here today," said Blinn cheer and dance head coach Sarah Barland Flisowski, now in her 11th year leading the dance program after once being a dancer in the program from 1994-96. "It's just fun to see everyone get together and share their experiences, share their memories of being a Blinn dancer and how that made an impact on their lives, their friendships and relationships … it's pretty special."
The College's dance program was founded by Sue Boehnke, who served as its director for 20 years. Members of Boehnke's family were on hand to take part in Saturday's festivities.
Also present were two members of Boehnke's inaugural team, co-captain Christy Slagle and her teammate Patricia Heitze, who attended Blinn from 1970-72. Slagle spoke of the program's early run and said she was proud to see the dance team earn recognition as a sport under Blinn's athletics umbrella.
"We started out with bare bones and Ms. Boehnke volunteered to take us and coach us," Slagle recalled. "She figured out how to make costumes for us because we didn't have the money, and she took things like shorts and put fringes on them, and put big puffy sleeves on blouses, and then found these white hats that when she tied them up they looked just like pirate hats. They were the cutest costumes.
"Now, you look at what the College has done for this program, the support and the backing. It's amazing what it's become over the years and the team is having so much success. It's wonderful."
Several members of the 2014 team were also present and recognized for capturing what would become the first of eight straight National Dance Alliance championships.
"It's definitely cool to come back and see these younger dancers and the success they've had and seeing coach (Barland Flisowski) get emotional during her speech … it's amazing," said Cassie Armenia, a member of the 2014 squad. "Being back on campus again is just so cool and brings back memories of some of the best years I've had of my life so far."
Blinn College District Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley was also among Saturday's attendees and spent the afternoon connecting with the dancers.
After the reception, the 2021 dance team's national championship rings were presented to the team during halftime of the Buccaneer football team's victory over Rezolution Prep at Cub Stadium. All five decades of dancers, along with Boehnke's family members, were recognized during the halftime commemoration.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
About the Blinn College District
With innovative programs and award-winning co-enrollment partnerships, Blinn's academic transfer rate ranks No. 1 among Texas community colleges. Courses are available online and at five Central Texas campuses, and students save 43% in tuition and fees compared to the average state university. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.
