If you’ve ever been to a step show, you’ve felt the energy, gotten caught up in the rhythm, seen the precision moves and felt the joy and pride of the steppers on stage.
If you’re a member of the Divine 9, you also probably got a little nostalgic. Stepping is a rich tradition for Black sororities and fraternities on college campuses that dates back decades. Over the years, it has grown and expanded to include high school step teams like Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s own Vikings and Queens of Excellence, also known as the H-F Steppers. The team, led by Coach Wesley Stewart, participates in competitions all over the country.
(Photo provided/H-F Steppers)
Stewart, a professional dancer and former H-F Stepper himself, said they are one of the best teams in Illinois. And that’s no idle boast. They have the trophies to prove it.
The team tied for first place at the Lyons Township High School step competition on April 12. That victory paved the way for them to go to the national competition in New Jersey, Stewart said. The Homewood-Flossmoor High School cheerleaders competed as a part of the steppers team for the Lyons Township High School event. The H-F Steppers team has 33 regular members, ranging from freshmen to seniors.
The team has won an impressive three national titles, Stewart said.
“We’re still fighting for our respect. We perform with a chip on our shoulders,” said Stewart, who also played football and ran track in high school. He explained that the steppers want to show that they are deserving of the same respect shown to other school teams.
The H-F Steppers team has been the longest-running step team in the South Suburbs, Stewart said. They are a hardworking and committed group. Those precision stomps, claps and steps come from hours of practice. Team captains Ruby Baker and LaChez Williams say that the team practices everyday and sometimes on Sunday.
“I love the teamwork and building bonds with people. Everybody has great bonds with everybody on the team,” said Baker, who is a senior. “My sister was a stepper and I’ve always loved watching stepping competitions.”
Williams, also a senior, said she enjoys the team because it’s different from the other dance teams she’s been on. Williams does African dance and has been on the hip-hop team and the poms team.
“By joining the steppers, I was able to add more to my background,” Williams said.
Another huge win for the steppers was the third place trophy they won in the all-female division at the Stomp Wars competition in Arlington, Texas this year. Stewart said 20 teams competed. This was the first time the H-F Steppers brought home a trophy from Stomp Wars, he said.
“We were the only Illinois team with an all-girl division,” Stewart said.
Stewart said that his team does about 8 to 10 competitions a year. “It has really been a blessing to win as much as we’ve been winning,” said Stewart, who joined the team as an assistant coach in 2023. He became head coach in 2024.
On Feb. 3, 2025, the team won first place at the Downers Grove South Competition.
Stewart is proud of his team’s accomplishments. Under his leadership, they’ve won or placed at every competition they’ve entered. Lovie Greer serves as assistant coach, and Stewart said that she does an amazing job.
Stewart estimates that there are only about 10-12 teams in Illinois. The team will be heading to St. Louis for a competition on April 26 called “Watch the Throne” on April 26. Last year, 14 teams competed and the H-F Steppers took first place in that, Stewart said.
Stewart sees stepping as a creative outlet for students. “Kids get to express their feelings on stage. Step is a way to get all of your thoughts and feelings out on a stage. It’s an expression sport,” he said.
Stewart says his ideas for show routines come from everywhere. “I can go see a movie and figure out moves,” said Stewart. “Last year we did the movie “Us” as a theme.” This year they used the video game Mortal Combat and its characters as its theme.
In October, the team went to Northern Illinois to perform at a homecoming step show and were well received. “We were the performance of the night,” Stewart said.