The pinnacle event of the year is finally here with the
MSHSL State Dance Team Tournament. This
is our 12th year at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. The first year at Target Center Kick was
actually the Friday event. (We rotated every year which went first). So many traditions and memories happen at the
State Tournament, I can’t wait to make even more this year. I’ll be covering the event via live blogging
during the day, and of course I’ll have scores and updates for you as soon as
they’re ready. Don’t forget you can
check out the State 2020 guide for all the things you need to know about the
event, its good to be prepared. You can
watch online via the link found there, or plan to pre-purchase your tickets in
advance if you’ll be coming in person. Lets
look at who will be going for the blue medals this weekend…..
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Jazz Tournament – February 14th
Class A: Class A jazz is such a nail biter for me because it
always seems like theres an equal chance of an epic performance, or one that
struggles. Having coached plenty of Class
A jazz myself, I know this feeling all too well. This year, we have 3 teams breaking 70
averages who should be early favorites.
Lac Qui Parle Valley Dawson Boyd, Frazee, and Zumbrota Mazeppa all have
solid routines and technique they’ll be bringing in the hunt for medals. In the finals race, BOLD, St. Charles, and
Holy Family Catholic are extremely close and there’s no obvious favorites
there. Dilworth Glyndon Felton and
Minnewaska are brand new to this floor and should have high energy debuts
considering what it took to get here.
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Class AA: The mid-size division also has 3 front runners in
Sartell, Totino Grace, and Benilde St. Margarets who all have 80+ averages from
sections. Its not unusual to see these 3
on the top of the standings, but what could get interesting this year is the
final order. Could we see a first ever
Sartell jazz championship? Around the
finals line, Rocori, Orono, and Faribault will be seasoned programs who can
handle the challenge of getting top 6. My
gut feeling is AA jazz will come down to having a high-powered prelims
performance, one that shows who wants it more.
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Class AAA: The ultra-talented AAA division will not disappoint
this year. Eastview, Wayzata, Maple
Grove, and Edina are all having excellent years. Its been a while since Maple Grove was quite this
good, and Eastview also seems to have a consistent top spot that will make them
ones to watch. The battle for finals
slots will be interesting between Prior Lake who has had a run of several
finals appearances, and Brainerd who’d like to show why they should earn it as
champs from section 4.
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Kick Tournament – Saturday February 15th
Class A: Lac Qui Parle Valley Dawson Boyd is well poised to
make a run for a double blue finish this year in jazz and kick. What could make this interesting is how
Cannon Falls really hasn’t been in a head-to-head with the other top contenders
this year, so average scores don’t really help sort that one out. Yellow Medicine East, Frazee, and even a
strong showing from St. Charles could all get in the medals mix. The finals picture should be fun as Wabasha
Kellogg, close rivals Lake City, a BOLD team with momentum, and my wild card pick
from Pierz all stand a shot at making the evening slots.
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Class AA: Sartell stands to be in control of their destiny
as competitor scores are coming in with plenty of breathing room. The intrigue here is a new face from St.
Cloud Tech or Rocori that could be in the medals mix, but Totino Grace and Faribault
are well positioned to take charge of that instead. Benilde St. Margarets and Austin are neck and
neck (and still over 80 points) on that finals cut-off line. Orono and Mound Westonka had only the tiniest
margin in their sections contest, so either team could pull ahead this
weekend. Wise teams will not hold
anything back in the prelims round, or they may not be in the finals conversation.
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Class AAA: Eastview and Wayzata will be back in the medals
mix from last year, with Eastview not changing their routine, it should be shiny
and clean. Spectators will love the
tough battles from Chaska, Brainerd, and Lakeville North for some hardware with
their solid routines. Prior Lake was
topping Lakeville North until sections, so they’ll be back wanting a better
outcome this time. Eden Prairie and
Anoka will try to catch notice in the finals race if they can be at their
peak. AAA kick is all about how things translate
to the “big floor” so keep an eye out for those pleasing routines that will fill
the stadium.
