Dance Team: Aitkin repeats as state champs

There was no controversy for Aitkin Saturday.

For the second year in a row, and seventh time in program history, Aitkin was crowned the Class 1A state high kick champions at Target Center in Minneapolis.

Crosby-Ironton, which also advanced to the finals, finished third.

Aitkin's Mariah Trotter and Madison Kuppich were named to Class 1A all-tournament team as were Mikaela Hartman and Madeline Oren of C-I.

Aitkin's other titles were in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Yellow Medicine East finished second, Montevideo fourth, BOLD fifth and PACT Charter School sixth.

Brainerd did not advance to the finals as they finished seventh, one place from advancing, in Saturday prelims.

Brainerd scored more total points than sixth-place Eden Prairie, but missed by 2.5 rank points. According to Brainerd head coach Cindy Clough, the tournament judges ranked Brainerd seventh, sixth, seventh, third, first, ninth, seventh and 7.5. The high and two low scores are thrown out.

"We killed it," said Clough. "It was definitely the best we have performed the entire year. We were clean, formations hit, energy was great and we were thrilled with our showing,"

It's the second straight year Brainerd didn't advance to the high kick finals.

Brainerd did, however, beat St. Cloud Tech, who won their section. Tech finished eighth with 636 points and 41.5 rank points.

Brainerd scored 665 points and 30 rank points.

Class 3A Controversy

Winning the controversial Class 3A title was Faribault as the remaining five other teams protested the authenticity of their routine.

"It was definitely the talk of the week," said Clough. "All of my coaching friends were texting and calling back and forth every day of the week. We jointly felt strongly that it was a violation of ethics and integrity. We all felt they should not be allowed to compete. I would compare it to someone knowingly saying they wrote a song, speech or an essay and then winning a contest with someone else's work. It just is not right. I can not imagine taking credit for someone else's routine. The grievance against Faribault was filed on the Monday following the section meet, which meets protocol. Burnsville was the fourth-place team in Section 1 AAA that would have gone to state if Faribault had been disqualified. I suspect we have not heard the end of this. Coaches met between prelims and finals talking of a boycott."

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"It was definitely the talk of the week," said Brainerd head coach Cindy Clough. "All of my coaching friends were texting and calling back and forth every day of the week. We jointly felt strongly that it was a violation of ethics and integrity. We all felt they (Faribault) should not be allowed to compete.

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Only Faribault received a trophy as the other five teams were disqualified for intentionally not standing in the proper place during the awards ceremony. The other teams were huddled in protest.

Faribault is being accused of allegedly copying the routine of a Utah team. A video showing both school's routines side-by-side was posted online with more than 4,000 people viewing it.

"Anyone involved in dance team feels pretty strongly that the team should have been disqualified," said Clough. "A very similar routine to the one they did had been done by Bountiful Utah Azurettes. It was the feeling of numerous coaches and activities directors that Faribault should have been disqualified or at least a penalty should have been given. The league issued a statement late Thursday that Faribault would not be disqualified, much to the dismay of the Minnesota Association Of Dance Team Coaches and especially the 3A state qualifying teams."

On the Minnesota State High School League website, Faribault is No. 1 with an asterisk. Wayzata finished second, Eastview third, Chaska fourth, Lakeville South fifth and Eden Prairie sixth.

Sartell won Class 2A followed by St. Cloud Cathedral, Totino-Grace, Benilde-St. Margaret's, Austin and Cannon Falls.

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop .

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2/9: Aitkin’s Brandie Westin performs in the Class 1A state high kick dance competition Saturday at Target Center in Minneapolis. The Aitkin All Starz repeated as state champions. Photo by Bill Johnson

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9/9: Andrea Schoonover, assistant coach for the Aitkin All Starz, gives a big hug to dancer Amanda Kuhlmann following the announcement of Aitkin High School’s win in the Class 1A high kick competition at the state dance meet Saturday in Minneapolis. Team manager Rachel Curtis is all smiles in the background. Photo by Bill Johnson