UPDATED: Cannon Falls takes first, second at section tune-up

CANNON FALLS -- In its second year of existence, the Cannon Falls Mini-Meet was intended to give area schools in all three classes a chance to compete before the section tournaments Feb. 6.

The results -- the Bomber Dance Team won the high kick meet and took second in jazz -- weren't of significance to Cannon Falls coach Carrie Williams and she said she heard similar sentiments from the other coaches she spoke with.

Williams and her captains said they didn't peak during their performances, but a top-notch routine is attainable by the end of the season.

"As far as how high kick went, there's a few things that I think we definitely still need to work on, but overall it was a very solid performance," Williams said. "The kids really pushed a lot of what we've been working on."

Senior Kate Bowen was just as pleased with Cannon Falls' execution in the jazz division.

"With jazz, earlier in the season we were having a hard time with being comfortable with the dance and now we're finally getting comfortable," she said. "Tonight we beat some AAA and AA teams so we're really happy with that."

Cannon Falls competes in Class A.

For Goodhue, the Mini-Meet provided the opportunity to practice the changes it had made since Friday's Hiawatha Valley League Conference meet. Goodhue made a few kick sequences more difficult and adjusted its arm movements so they'd be more precise.

"The girls didn't get much time to learn all the new parts and I thought we did a really awesome job being able to just go out there and give it our best when we just learned everything, like, last week that was new," sophomore Shawna Conrad said. "And they only got one practice day to learn it all."

Coach Krystle Graber also was pleased with her team's excitement during its routine.

"The biggest thing my girls have been working towards is showing their energy," she said. "I know they're excited about dancing. I know they love it. But to show it and bring it to the floor so everyone else knows and I think they did fulfill that."

Goodhue placed sixth in the six-team high kick division.

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