Pictured above are the six seniors on this year’s Laker dance teams, Melena Longtin (left), Katie Sorenson, Avarie Uhde, Autumm Hess, Katy Vold and McKenna Uhde. Awards listed on page 3B.
Varsity Kick — McKenna Uhde (biggest cheerleader), Katie Sorenson (best kicks), Avarie Uhde (most outstanding dancer), Autumm Hess (Miss Tight and Crisp) and Sydney Klassen (most improved).
B-squad Jazz — Emily Nelson (biggest cheerleader), Brynlee Beene (most improved), Katelyn Hurst (best turns), Libby Gulbranson (most outstanding dancer) and Kate Lowery (best leaps and jumps).
Varsity Jazz — McKenna Uhde (most outstanding dancer), Katy Vold (biggest cheerleader), Alexis Jenson (best turns), Mesa Kittelson (best leaps and jumps) and Taylor Danter (most improved).
All-Conference Jazz — Autumm Hess (honorable mention), McKenna Uhde, Avarie Uhde and Mesa Kittelson (honorable mention).
All-Conference Kick — Katie Sorenson (honorable mention), McKenna Uhde, Avarie Uhde and Katy Vold (honorable mention).
JV Kick Awards — Averi Anderson (best kicks), Beaux Asche (most improved, biggest cheerleader), Libby Gulbranson (Miss Tight and Crisp) and Katelyn Hurst (most outstanding dancer).
JV Jazz — Tyla Ziesmer (biggest cheerleader, best turns), Salome Correa Santa (most improved), Sydney Klassen (best leaps and jumps) and Mia Troen (most outstanding dancer).
All-Conference Academic Awards — Front row (left to right), Autumm Hess, Avarie Uhde, McKenna Uhde and Mesa Kittelson. Back — Tyla Ziesmer, Katie Sorenson, Katy Vold, Aubri Suckstorff and Mia Troen. Not pictured was Lyla Stadtherr.

The Minnewaska Area dance teams closed out another successful season at the State Tournament.  The Jazz team earned a state berth after placing third at the section meet, while the High-Kick team placed fourth at sections.

It was the fifth time the Lakers have sent a dance team to state in the last six years.

Minnewaska Area failed to make the six-team finals won by  Lac qui Parle-DB with Yellow Medicine East placing second and St. Cloud Cathedral third.  

SCC won this year’s Section 2A title, while Holdingford was second and the Lakers were third to earn the state berth.

LQP/DB also won the Class A High-Kick state title with YME also placing second and Holdingford earning third.

At the Section 2A Meet, Holdingford won the title, while SCC was second, NLS earned third and the Lakers were fourth.

The Lakers recently announced their season-ending team awards.  The awardwinners are pictured on page 3B.

•  Members of the Minnewaska Area dance team for 2024-25 were  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 (JV), Kristen Glover and Mikiya Smith.

The Lakers have earned trips to state for five of the last six years. 

The Jazz team qualified to state in 2019-20, the Jazz and High-Kick teams made it to state in 2020-21 and again in 2021-22 and the Jazz team also earned a state berth in 2022-23.

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!