BHS wins jazz, ties for title

The Brainerd dance team is performing well heading into the Class 3A section meet Saturday in Elk River.

This past Saturday, the team tied with its biggest section competitor, St. Cloud Tech, for the Central Lakes Conference championship in Alexandria. At the conference meet, the overall champion is determined by the lowest combined rank points in the high kick and jazz competitions.

Head Coach Cindy Clough said Brainerd won in jazz and St. Cloud Tech won in high kick to tie for the conference title. Last year, the two teams tied for the conference championship, with Brainerd winning in high kick and St. Cloud Tech in jazz.

Clough said that this year, the judges wanted one true conference champion. Clough said Brainerd and St. Cloud Tech were so close in points that none of the tiebreaker formulas worked, and therefore, the judges declared a tie.

"We're so happy to win in jazz," Clough said. "This is the first time in a very long time where we won jazz. At our last meet in Wayzata, we beat St. Cloud Tech, and we were wondering if it was a fluke. Beating them a second time, we know we're doing good."

Clough said she increased the difficulty in the team's jazz routine to help beef up points, and it worked.

"At first, I thought I had done too many changes to the routine," Clough said. "But after seeing them do it Saturday, it looked like they were doing it all year."

St. Cloud Tech placed second in jazz, Sartell third, Sauk Rapids fourth, Willmar fifth, Alexandria sixth and Fergus Falls seventh.

Brainerd placed second in high kick, Sartell third, Sauk Rapids fourth, St. Cloud Apollo fifth, Willmar sixth, Alexandria seventh and Fergus Falls eighth.

This week, Clough said the team plans to work on its jazz and kick routines equally. She said the dancers will work on endurance and fine tune their skills in both routines.

Thirteen teams will compete in the section meet Saturday in Elk River. The top three teams will advance to the state dance meet. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. The jazz/funk competition begins at noon, with high kick beginning at 2 p.m.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER can be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.