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Perry Hall Soccer Team Prepares For Game After Principal Revokes Suspension

PERRY HALL, Md. (WJZ)-- A controversial dance almost ended their season. Now, a dramatic decision has been reversed for the Perry Hall High School soccer team.

Meghan McCorkell has more as the team prepares for a big game.

That game almost didn't happen. The school's principal suspended the soccer team after a victory dance landed them in hot water. Now, he's changed his mind.

Two games from a state championship, a victory dance called "The Bernie" almost ended Perry Hall's soccer season.

Parents from the opposing team complained the dance was lewd.

"The dance was just for fun," Perry Hall High School senior J.T. Bibb said. "They've done it at other games before and there was no big deal about it."

After public outcry, the principal lifted the suspension against the team Friday.

"They will play," George Roberts said.

The dance decision was big talk at Perry Hall's football game.

"What they did was wrong but they definitely shouldn't have gotten as penalized as they did for it," Kara Taylor, a Perry Hall sophomore, said.

"I think in the end he made the right decision," said Robert Shapiro from Cockeysville. "It takes a lot of courage to change his decision like that."

The controversy even caught the eye of Ravens players-- like Terrell Suggs-- who did The Bernie on Monday Night Football.

Suggs told WJZ's media partner "The Baltimore Sun": "If they did do it after me, I'm flattered. I think it was way too harsh for them to get suspended because they were happy and did the dance."

"It's not promoting violence, it's not doing anything offensive. It's something that's harmless," said teammate Ray Rice.

"I'm just happy we can play now," Christopher White, the Perry Hall soccer team captain, said. "That's all I care about."

Now, they'll continue their rise to the top.

"Play tomorrow. Big game. Very big game," Christopher Winter, a Perry Hall soccer player, said.

The focus is scoring the goals and not how they'll celebrate after.

Instead of forfeiting the season, the entire soccer team will be required to take an online course on sportsmanship.

The Perry Hall High School soccer team plays in the regional semifinals Saturday afternoon in Montgomery County.

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