Posted: 2/26/04
By Danielle Strenke
The North Branch Dance Team came into the Section 3 Finals Saturday, Feb. 21 with high hopes and left with a disappointing finish to the season.
The squad performed in both the jazz/funk category and the high kick category, placing 7th out of 14 teams in each contest. Last season, the Vikings narrowly missed one of the top four places in high kick to advance to the state tournament.
Head Coach Dianna Linehan said the team was very optimistic and sheís proud of how well they performed. ìItís unfortunate, but we were competing against some amazing teams,î she said.
The top four teams from each category advance to the Class AA state meet this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-29 at the Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul.
Advancing to the state meet in jazz/funk are: Duluth East, St. Cloud Cathedral, Sauk Rapids-Rice and Chisago Lakes. Advancing in high kick are: St. Cloud Cathedral, St. Cloud Appollo, Willmar and Sauk Rapids-Rice.
Despite the disappointing end, Linehan is pleased with how well the team performed this season. ìThey did a fantastic job and Iím so proud of them,î she said. ìAll along they have been very patient with changes weíve made and theyíve worked so hard.î One of those changes came in the last week before the finals as one teammate became ill and Linehan was forced to juggle the lineup.
Linehan is confident that next yearís squad will work together just as well. ìWe have many girls coming back who have been on the team for all three years, so they know what to do and whatís expected of them.î
©ECM Post Review
6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com