Junior Kix, Kixters to perform at Outback Bowl

TAMPA, Fla. -- Twenty-two members of the Brainerd Junior Kix and Brainerd High School Kixters are in Tampa, Fla., and will perform during the pregame and half-time shows during the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN, said Kixters coach Cindy Clough, who is also coaching the entire all-star performance team.

There will be 178 performers from 12 states participating in the pregame and half-time shows during the Outback Bowl. The 22 Brainerd performers, all ninth- and 10th-graders, learned their routines by videotape ahead of time.

The show will include the songs, "Hot, Hot, Hot," "Theme from 2001 Space Odyssey," "Cup of Life" and the finale will be "America the Beautiful." Props for the final dance will include pompons and red and blue capes.

While in Tampa, the team, which includes five parent chaperones, planned not only to practice but to go to the beach, Busch Gardens and DisneyWorld.

Performers from Brainerd include Alysia Abel, Jenni Badeaux, Jessica Baker, Nikki Bender, Ali Clough, Katie Curell, Crystal Dircks, Liz Donnay, Krystal Halverson, Megan Hamdorf, Lavender Hangge, Naomi Hyland, Brittany Lang, Ashley Musel, Toni Nemeth, Jenny Olson, Marcie Sharp, Mallory Smith, Katie Taylor, Katherine Verkennes, Martha Worms and Holly Zelinske.

This is the 14th year Clough has coached a dance team during a bowl game. Choreography for the event was developed by Clough, Carrie Kavanaugh and Sandy House. Staff members from Brainerd at the Outback Bowl also include Mary and Shawn Sundquist, Stacie Hanfler and Susan Gebhardt.