The Minnewaska Area varsity Jazz dance team punched a return-ticket to state with a runner-up finish at the Section 4A Dance Tournament, Saturday at Wadena-Deer Creek High School.

The High Kick team meanwhile, came up just short, placing fourth of 10 teams to miss out on a trip to state by one place.  The State Class A Dance Meet is set for Feb. 17-18 at the Target Stadium in Minneapolis.

Crosby won the Jazz category with five points, while Minnewaska Area was second with 14, followed by Hawley (15), Frazee (15), DGF (25), Crookston (31.5), Bagley (34.5), Aitkin (37), WDC (43) and Mahnomen 50).

Crosby earned first place from all eight judges, while the Lakers were ranked second by three judges, third by two, fourth by two and fifth by one.  The top three teams advance to state and Hawley earned the tiebreaker edge over Frazee for the final state berth.

•  In the High Kick category, Crosby won the title with five points again, followed by Hawley (12), Bagley (14), Minnewaska (18), Frazee (24), Crookston (31), Aitkin (32), DGF (41), WDC (42) and Mahnomen (50).

Crosby earned first place again from all eight judges, but the Lakers were ranked anywhere from second to sixth.

Hawley was ranked second by four judges, while also ranked third twice, fourth once and fifth once, while Bagley was ranked second twice, third five times and fourth once.

Minnewaska Area meanwhile, was also ranked second twice, fourth five times and sixth place once by a judge that also ranked Bagley third.

Last year, the Minnewaska Jazz team placed first and the High Kick team was third at sections before the Jazz team placed seventh at state and the High Kick team was 10th.

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!