Sections Final Results

This is it!  State order is now set!  Congratulations to all the winners.  See you Friday and Saturday at the Target Center.

Section 1A:

Kick:

1. Cannon Falls

2. Lake City

3. Dover Eyota

Jazz:

1. Cannon Falls

2. Zumbrota Mazeppa

3. St. Charles

2A:

Kick:

1. Aitkin

2. Duluth Marshall

3. Mayer Lutheran

Jazz:

1. Aitkin

2. Duluth Marshall

3. Mayer Lutheran

3A:

Kick:

1. Yellow Medicine East

2. Lac Qui Parle Valley

3. BOLD

Jazz:

1. Yellow Medicine East

2. Lac Qui Parle Valley

3. Renville County West

1AA:

Kick:

1. Chaska

2. Faribault

3. Austin

Jazz:

1. Chaska

2. Benilde-St.Margarets

3. Simley

2AA:

Kick:

1. Totino Grace

2. Fridley

3. Hill Murray

Jazz:

1. Totino Grace

2. Fridley

3. Duluth Denfeld

1AAA:

Kick:

1. Eastview

2. Apple Valley

3. Burnsville

Jazz:

1. Eastview

2. Lakeville North

3. Burnsville

3AAA:

Kick:

1. Spring Lake Park

2. Centennial

3. Eagan

Jazz:

1. Spring Lake Park

2. Eagan

3. Centennial

Section 1AAA Live Commentary Feed

Join us here at 4:15pm on Saturday for complete coverage of the section 1AAA dance team championship live from Bloomington Kennedy high school!  Photos, commentary, results, insights, trivia, updates, and more all on an easy to read format for mobile devices!  Tune in to be updated on section results from across the state as they come in. 

Second Weekend of Sections - Previews!

The first round is behind us now and 19 teams have earned a spot in the state lineup.  They are filled in on the state performance order listed by mnhsdanceteam.com  - This weekend we have twice as many meets to fill the rest of our roster and send us full steam into the Target Center!  Good luck to all the teams participating…..

Class A:

Section 1A:  This group is typically dominated by the Cannon Falls Bombers and this year looks to be no exception.  The BDT will be looking for their staggering 9^th consecutive kick section championship in a new location at Dover-Eyota.  Lake City will also be looking good in the kick division, with teams from St. Charles and Zumbrota looking for the #3.  In jazz, Cannon Falls looks good for qualifying again, with Zumbrota and St. Charles adding repeat visits themselves if all goes well.

Section 2A: The section held in Aitkin is rather a mis-match of geography, hosting teams from as far away as New Ulm to Duluth.  The reorganization should still yield Aitkin and Duluth Marshall as the top spots in both divisions, with special interest on the jazz division where we’ll see if Duluth Marshall is looking good to take yet another state championship or not.  Aitkin might give them a run for it, but they missed out on a chance to meet up at the Mounds View Invite when Aitkin (among others) dropped the event.  Should add more drama to Saturday’s matchup for sure.  The remaining 3^rd place is up for grabs in a section that doesn’t go head to head often enough to venture a guess.  Perhaps we’ll get a newcomer in this field. 

Section 3A: This heated pack will be the place to see all the class A action on Saturday with teams from YME, LqPV, BOLD, RCW, and every other initialed combination you can think of battling it out.  Yellow Medicine East is my pick for tops in jazz and possibly kick, while Lac Qui Parle Valley looks to qualify in kick again and possibly make its first ever jazz state appearance after adding the program only last year.  Tracy is looking strong to qualify in one or both, while RCW and BOLD will join the hunt with BOLD looking better in kick than jazz for a change. 

Class AA:

Section 1AA: This one will be the place to be if you’re willing to make the trek to Austin to watch the action unfold.  One thing is for sure about this section – there will be teams I want on my state video who won’t make it.  Chaska is looking to take the top spot in both in my book.  I saw their last performances at the preview, and it was wow.  Their kick contained physical depictions of crocodiles, hieroglyphics, and even Nile rivers flowing - the full visual picture. I’m not sure I’ve EVER seen that level of detail accomplished before.  Gonna raise the bar, that one.  Their jazz is a more sophisticated version of their “typical” (yet new) style.  Solid, impressive, and polished to the last.  The remaining kick division contains strong teams from Faribault, Benilde, Holy Angels, Austin, and Simley who are looking for their ticket to state.  Faribault is not to be doubted in a pressure situation like this one, and then I’d guess either Austin or Benilde will sneak in the last spot.  That’s entirely a guess as I think it will be a best of the moment decision.  Dance Team at its’ finest!  Jazz has the same top names, with Benilde and Simley as likely qualifiers in my book. 

Section 2AA:  This field will most certainly feature Totino Grace prominently on the podium, with strong kick performances from Fridley, Hill Murray, and North Branch to round it out.  In jazz, Totino, Fridley, Hill Murray, and Chisago Lakes are looking good for top placements.  With the departure of Rogers to AAA , we’ll for sure see some new faces emerge from this section. 

Class AAA:

Section 1AAA:  The evening section at Bloomington Kennedy should be a strong kick matchup with teams from Eastview and Apple Valley looking strong for qualification.  Burnsville and Lakeville North will try to get return trips to state after not making it in kick last season.  Burnsville will likely be bringing a new, little seen dance to the table which could be a wild card.  Eastview will do their new “music box dancer” routine complete with black tutus and pink tights, possibly channeling their inner black swan.  In jazz, Eastview, Burnsville, and Lakeville North look good for repeat visits to the state floor, with some possible wild card action in there from a more open field than previous years. 

Section 3AAA: The morning session at Bloomington will be a tighter race than usual with top teams scoring closely in both divisions.  The only clear standout will likely be Spring Lake Park jazz which was chill inducing at the section preview.  I am also really on board with Centennial’s kick dance as my pick in that division.  Eagan is looking strong to qualify in both, along with someone from the pack of Henry Sibley, Irondale, and Forest Lake in there for trips to state.  This one will be a photo finish.   

Best of luck to all the talented athletes!  

Inspiration: Student Writings

Check out this great poem and photo submitted by Hutchinson senior dancer, Sammy Jo Robbins, who was willing to let me share this with the dance community.  Congrats to a "new" state team!  

Sections- Senior Year 

Millions of thoughts run though your head,
Like you have three minutes to show
How hard you’ve been training for days,
Months, seasons, even years.
Finally, the music starts
Kick after kick
Arm after arm, finally
The last pose. You made it.

Now you stand on the floor
Just one last time, to hear your name called.
You get butterflies like a first love.
At last, your name is called,
You cry, scream and jump for joy!
You have waited four years for this dream,
But before it runs, just remember it was all you.

Sections Results!

The first weekend of sections is in the books and teams are packing their bags for state!  Here's the results so far....Congrats to all the teams participating today.

Section 2AAA:

Kick:

1. Eden Prairie

2. Wayzata

3. Hopkins

Jazz:

1. Wayzata

2. Maple Grove

3. Eden Prairie

Section 4AAA:

Kick:

1. Brainerd

2. St. Cloud Tech

3. Blaine

Jazz:

1. St. Cloud Tech

2. Blaine

3. Brainerd

Section 4 AA:

Kick:

1. Sartell

2. St. Cloud Cathedral

3. Sauk Rapids-Rice

Jazz:

1. Sartell

2. St. Cloud Cathedral

3. Sauk Rapids -Rice

Section 3AA

Kick:

1. Marshall

2. Waconia

3. Hutchinson

Jazz:

1. Mound Westonka

2. Marshall

3. Holy Family

Section 4A

Kick:

1. Bagley

2. Pelican Rapids

3. Crosby Ironton

Jazz:

1. Pelican Rapids

2. Frazee

3. Crosby Ironton

Section 2AAA Live Feed

Today's the day!  Join us here, on your mobile device, or at www.coveritlive.com  to follow along with all the action of the 2AAA tournament:  If you missed something, it will have instant replay once the event concludes...

First Weekend of Sections - Previews

The dance team season is barreling to a close and we kickoff our post season with a handful of section tournaments this Saturday, February 4^th.  Teams all across the state will be battling it out for a coveted spot in the top 3 and a trip to the state tournament on February 17^th and 18^th in Minneapolis.  Lets take a look at the key matchups:

Class A:

Section 4A: Section 4 will have a new face or two make it into the top 3 for sure this year after the departure of Albany from the kick division up to AA.  In kick, both Bagley and Pelican Rapids have been making strong showings across their area meets, with teams from Crosby, Frazee, and Pierz putting pressure on for the last spot.  The jazz division sees both Pelican Rapids and Frazee looking good for another trip to state, with Crosby and Pierz looking for something in there as well.  The real challenge for this section will be in trying to get some teams in state finals, after not sending anyone other than Frazee jazz since 2008. 

Class AA:

Section 3AA: This western section has sure heated things up this year with back and forth placements in both kick and jazz divisions.  Marshall and Mound Westonka look good in both divisions, with Holy Family in the mix in jazz and the pack of Waconia, Holy Family, and Delano going back and forth for the bragging rights in kick.  Marshall’s jazz is on to something that really works for them so they might be a challenger for a better placement at state than before - while Mound will bring its usual consistency to the table, something few other teams in this section seem to be able to do.  Holy Family has impressed with their consistent improvements in the AA arena since moving there in 2008 and shouldn’t be taken lightly.  

4AA: The “up north” section of AA is looking to send kick state champs Sartell back in both styles, while Sauk Rapids is continuing from its phoenix like return from last year, likely qualifying in either or both categories.  St. Cloud Cathedral will be one to watch, after a strong start to the season, personal turmoil with a mid-season coaching change will have to be overcome in order to make a strong showing at state.  So far, so good on that front for the Crusaderettes.  I’m also keeping an eye out for the surging team from Pequot Lakes, who seem to be coming into their own after a few years of gaining their feet in AA.  This section has some depth and should have a good showing at state for those who survive to kick another day. 

Class AAA:

2AAA:  The “Wayzata” section (as the perennial hosts) finally has a new door opening with the departure of Chaska to AA.  Wayzata and Maple Grove still bring strong jazz teams to the table, but there is room for someone new, most likely Hopkins or Eden Prairie.  I’ve watched them flip flop all year and their strengths seem to be opposite – should be a tough call as usual.  Maple Grove jazz seems more comfortable in their new routine and I expect to see their scores improve from early season.  Kick is Eden Prairie’s to lose at this point, with MG, Wayzata, and Hopkins rounding out the 2^nd and 3^rd spots with dances that are very close matchups when I’ve seen them.  Wayzata’s kick seems improved from years past - which is nice to see them make a serious push for it for the first time since Megan Hutton’s departure from staff.  Hopkins is also bringing their best kick dance yet, so the meet is gonna be tight with or without Chaska in the mix.  I’ll be doing a live feed from this matchup so stay tuned!

4AAA: This section hosted by Elk River should be a huge day for the jazz division especially.  St. Cloud Tech, Brainerd, Andover, Champlin Park, and Duluth East all have easily the best routines they’ve had in several years, and that’s not to mention state regular Blaine.  Someone’s not getting a spot who I’d like to have on my state tape, that’s for sure.  I think Tech might be my only safe bet here.  In kick, Brainerd has spiffed things up in new costumes and looks pretty solid for qualification, but they always seem to have trouble placing high on sections day, so they’ll need to be top form to make sure they don’t get overlooked for a strong Blaine or Tech program.  Whoever gets 2^nd in this kick division goes 1^st at state, so there is more incentive to take home the blue than usual.   I haven’t heard much from Elk River kick this year, but Anoka and even Moorhead have taken some top placements in kick meets and might be worth a look for a state berth.  

Best of luck to all the teams!  Don’t forget that this is just my thoughts, anything can happen and I look forward to the surprises!