In Depth: Mid-December Scores

Here we are dance fans, it’s 1/2 way to state.  Today.  As in now.  Crazy huh?  I can’t believe how fast our early season events have come and gone.  Many conference championships and last showings of those early season routines are coming up already.  Hard to accept we’re already here.  Of course, there are a lot more headlines to talk about than just our invitational results – so lets take a look at where things stand.

Class A:  High average score this week in jazz goes to Duluth Marshall (65.8), with Zumbrota Mazeppa pulling in close behind with a 65.6 at their home invitational.  The cougars are taking their surprise 3rd place finish at state last year and making it a jumping off point for this year.  The jazz division will really heat up after the 1st of the year once top finishers Aitkin and YME join the scores mix.   Most improved this week was Brooklyn Center who jumped up 14 points in 7 days.  In kick, Aitkin brings in the high score of the week with a huge 84.6 average at their conference meet at home.  That’s Eastview and Chaska kick kinds of scores.  Since I haven’t seen them personally, I don’t know if that’s a serious comparison, but that kind of points is an impressive showing regardless of class divisions.  Most improved this week was Concordia Academy kick, bumping up 20 points from Saturday to Saturday.

Class AA: Benilde St. Margarets takes the top score in jazz (87.2 ave) with Totino Grace and Chisago Lakes breaking the 80 point barriers this week as well.  Chisago takes most improved honors, jumping up from a 60.8 average to over 80 in one week.  Changes must have been made there to jump start that growth.  AA kick top score was again Sartell (87 ave) with Cannon Falls, Totino, Austin, and Benilde getting that 80 point mark.  Albany takes a most improved honor this week, jumping up 23 points from December 2nd.

Class AAA: Eastview (92.6) aims high this week in AAA jazz, jumping up 2 points from Wayzata’s high score last week.  So far those 2 are the only to bring home a 90 average.  Certainly suggests there are some 10’s being handed out this month.  Coon Rapids gets most improved with a 17 point jump in their jazz routine this week.  Kick belongs to Chaska this week with a 91.8 average at the Eastview invite.  So far the Hawks soar alone in the 90s column for kick.  Andover is most improved in kick, with a 23 point bump.