The Minnewaska Area dance teams competed at the Willmar and Rocori Invitationals last week.  One was a three-team meet, while the other was a multi-team meet that involved some of the best teams in the state.

The Lakers placed second at the three-team Willmar meet in the Jazz event.  Minnewaska Area did not have a High-Kick team perform due to illness.

Rocori won both competitions and the Willmar Invitational was for varsity only.

On Saturday, the Lakers competed at the Rocori Invitational where the Lakers picked up a load of hardware.

The B-squad Jazz team placed first, while the JV High-Kick, the Varsity Jazz and Varsity High-Kick teams all placed second to earn runner-up plaques.  The Minnewaska Area JV Jazz team did not compete at Rocori due to illness.

The only meet left on the regular-season schedule is the NLS Invitational, set for Friday, Jan. 24.  After that, the Section 2A Dance Meet would be next.  That competition is set for Saturday, Feb. 8 at NLS.

The State Dance Meet is set for Feb. 14-15 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

The dance teams just missed out on a trip to state last year after placing fourth in both the High Kick and Jazz competitions at last year’s Section 2A Dance Meet at NLS High School.

•  Members of the Minnewaska Area dance team for 2024-25 are  seniors Autumm Hess, Avarie Uhde, McKenna Uhde, Katie Sorenson, Katy Vold and Melena Longtin (team manager); juniors Alexis Jenson, Lyla Stadtherr, Mesa Kittelson and Taylor Danter; sophomore Tyla Ziesmer, ninth-graders Aaliyah Olson, Aubri Suckstorff, Beaux Asche, Katelynn Hurst, Libby Gulbranson, Mia Troen and Sydney Klassen; eighth-graders Averi Anderson, Emily Kohn, Emily Nelson, Kate Lowery, Salome Correa Santa and Tenley Steinhofer; and seventh-graders Brynlee Beene and Kathleen Burnett.

The dance teams are coached by Tana Ziesmer with assistance from Morgan Kaufman and Mikiya Smith.

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!