The Minnewaska Area dance teams had great seasons in 2023-24 despite not qualifying to the state meet.  The Lakers placed fourth in the High Kick and Jazz competitions at the Section 2A Dance Meet, Saturday at NLS High School.  St. Cloud Cathedral, Holdingford and NLS claimed the top three spots in both competitions.

SCC and Holdingford have been among the top teams in state all year and both went on to claim the state Class A High Kick and Jazz titles.

The Laker dance teams competed in 12 meets this season, including the section meet.

 The dance teams did win one competition this season as both teams were first at the 6-team BBE Invitational early in the season.

The High-Kick team was also second at the Minnewaska Invitational and third in four other meets, while the Jazz team also placed fourth in four competitions this season.

•  State meet history — Minnewaska Area qualified the Jazz and High Kick teams to state in 2021-22 and the Jazz team also went to state last year in 2022-23.

However, the Lakers moved from 4A to 2A this season where the top three teams, Holdingford, St. Cloud Cathedral, and NLS, are among the top teams in the state.

In 2020-21, the Lakers also advanced both teams to state.  The High Kick team placed ninth at state, while the Jazz team placed 10th.

And, in 2019-20, Minnewaska Area, the Jazz team qualified to state for the first trip to state for a Laker dance team and went on to place 12th.

•  Seniors lost to graduation from this year’s Laker dance teams are Brianna Erickson, Kia Matt, Cacee Danielson, Anna Uecker and Makenna Swalla.

•  This year’s Minnewaska varsity Jazz roster includes seniors Cacee Danielson, Kia Matt and Anna Uecker; juniors Autumm Hess, Mataya Mix, Avarie Uhde and McKenna Uhde; and sophomores Taylor Dantor, Lexi Jenson, Mesa Kittelson and Lyla Stadtherr, while alternates are senior Makenna Swalla and junior Katy Vold and the manager is Xi Li.

•  The Varsity High Kick roster for 2023-24 includes seniors Makenna Swalla, Kia Matt, Cacee Danielson, Anna Uecker and Brianna Erickson; juniors Katy Vold, Katie Sorenson, Mataya Mix, Avarie Uhde, McKenna Uhde and Autumm Hess; and sophomores Taylor Dantor, Mesa Kittelson, Lexi Jenson and Lyla Stadtherr.  The alternates are freshman Tyla Ziesmer and eighth-grader Aubri Suckstorff and the manager is Xi Li.

The JV Jazz roster includes seniors Brianna Erickson and Makenna Swalla; juniors Katie Sorenson and Katy Vold; ninth-graders Sydney Klassen and Tyla Ziesmer and eighth-grader Aubri Suckstorff, while the B-squad Jazz team includes Mia Troen, Aaliyah Olson, Libby Gulbranson, Katelyn Hurst, Emily Nelson and Tenley Steinhofer and the manager is Rylie Molloy. 

Members of the JV Kick team are Tyla Ziesmer, Aubri Suckstorff, Sydney Klassen, Mia Troen, Aaliyah Olson, Libby Gulbranson, Katelyn Hurst, Emily Nelson and Tenley Steinhofer and the manager is Rylie Molloy.

Head coach of the Laker dance teams this year was Tana Ziesmer, who was assisted by Morgan Blair, Miriah Hetland and Mikaya Smith.