The Peanut City Cloggers came away from a recent competition in Lexington, N.C., with a raft of team and individual awards and are looking forward to the national competition for which the regional awards will help qualify them.

“I’m always very proud of them,” manager Donna Riley said of the team, noting the cloggers had practiced multiple days per week to prepare for the competition. It paid off — the team came away with the highest team score of the day.

The competition — Carolina Fusion, which was held June 28, was a qualifier for the national competition. A first or second place for the same routine in two preliminary competitions earns an invite to the national competition, Riley said.

“That’s the ultimate win,” she said of the national event. “Then, you’re up against all of the winners.”

Riley said the team has “had (its) ups and downs” throughout its 30-plus-year history, sometimes due to dancers growing up and losing interest in clogging. But now, she said, “We probably have as many adult dancers as we have children.”

Different styles of clogging and multiple age groups are featured in each competition, giving multiple opportunities for awards.

Both the senior and adult teams from the Peanut City Cloggers won first place in their age category in country hoedown and in Kentucky hoedown. The adult team was named grand champion — the highest score for all age groups — in both styles.

In addition, the young adult team was first in its age group and grand champion for open hoedown, show and Southern Appalachian styles. The senior team was first place and grand champion for running set hoedown. The adult team was first place and grand champion for the smooth mountain style.

In addition, Katie Timmins and Harrison Storms won first place for their buck and wing duet.

Solo cloggers who won first place in various styles were Joann Price, Sarah Wollett, Dylan Blodgett, Bob Greene, Jake Randall, Harrison Storms and Shamus Riley. Wollett and Riley won two different first-place awards in different divisions. Price, Greene and Riley were named overall champions for their respective divisions.

Finishing with second places were Karley Barnes, Judi Lester and Samantha Thomasin. Coming away with third-place finishes were Leia Dotson and Jordan West.

The team visits another competition later this month and will take its youngest dancers, many of whom have never competed before.

For more information about the Peanut City Cloggers, call Riley at 934-2558.