SAUK RAPIDS — The Alexandria dance team wrapped up its winter season on Saturday as the Cardinals went to Sauk Rapids-Rice High School and battled 14 other programs in the Section 4AA meet.
The top-three finishers in each of the jazz and high-kick categories earned a trip to the state meet as Sauk Rapids-Rice defended its home court in each to take first place with a ranking point total of 5 in both.
Becker took second and Detroit Lakes was third in jazz to round out the state qualifiers. Rocori (13) was second in the high kick and Becker was third (14).
Alexandria’s top finish came in the high kick where the Cardinals finished seventh with a ranking point total of 30.5. They were ninth in the jazz routine (43).
“I am so proud of how our team performed on Saturday,” Alexandria head coach Kassandra Gibbons said. “I think all a coach really wants is for their team to do their absolute best every time they perform and to improve each meet. The team made huge improvements this week before sections and their performances on Saturday were at another level.”
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Gibbons said she could not have asked for a better performance from her athletes.
“They left it all out on the floor,” she said. “At our post-meet debrief, the girls just really didn't want the season to be over. We had a great run and the girls really bonded as a team and didn't want that to end. They all were very proud of how they performed and were happy with how they competed.”
Alexandria had some first-year dancers who gained a lot of valuable experience throughout the course of this season. That has Gibbons excited about the future for this nucleus as the Cardinals head into the offseason.
“Our section actually had some pretty close scores within places 2-7,” Gibbons said. “Our team has 17 dancers with 7 of them being freshman dancers. This is going to allow for opportunities to really hone in as a team over the next few years and to really develop our younger athletes into the best dancers they can be heading into future seasons.”
SECTION 4AA MEET
HIGH KICK TEAM FINISHES (With ranking point total) - Sauk Rapids-Rice - 5; Rocori - 13; Becker - 14; Zimmerman - 17; St. Francis - 27; Monticello - 29.5; Alexandria - 30.5; Foley - 42; Bemidji - 46.5; Detroit Lakes - 50; Albany - 51; Pequot Lakes - 61.5; Little Falls - 61.5; Big Lake - 64; Rock Ridge - 75
JAZZ - Sauk Rapids-Rice - 5; Becker - 12; Detroit Lakes - 16; Rocori - 19.5; St. Francis - 23; Zimmerman - 25.5; Monticello - 30; Big Lake - 42.5; Alexandria - 43; Bemidji - 46; Little Falls - 57; Pequot Lakes - 57.5; Foley - 61.5; Albany - 67.5; Rock Ridge - 75
