Dance: Stunned Z-M takes 3rd in Jazz; Bombers place 8th

MINNEAPOLIS – Zumbrota-Mazeppa went into the finals of the Class 1A state dance team tournament Jazz Division ranked fourth behind Yellow Medicine East, Aitkin and Marshall School-Duluth.

The Cougars scored well enough to get a No. 1 ranking from several judges in the preliminary round, but they upped their performance in the finals, finishing third in the state at the Target Center.

“It’s pretty cool to see them doing so well,” Cannon Falls head coach Madi Salisbury said after the prelims.

Yellow Medicine East took first and Aitkin was second.

Z-M competed to “Some Nights” by Fun., completing the jazz routine with few mistakes.

Earlier this week, Cougars’ head coach Jen Stumm said the team’s goal was just to make finals and enjoy the time on the Target Center floor. But on Friday, Z-M exceeded expectations.

“We’d definitely like to see ourselves get into finals,” she said Monday. “We need to clean up our turns and continue to have the energy and the excitement that we had when we performed on Saturday.”

Brenna Hoven and Annika Sand were named to the Class 1A Jazz All-Tournament Team for the Cougars.

Z-M participates in the high kick prelims today at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Stumm could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Cannon Falls finishes 8th in Jazz Division

Not long ago, Cannon Falls head coach Madi Salisbury nearly scrapped the Bombers jazz routine because it needed so much work.

“I almost ixnayed jazz,” Salisbury admitted. “But then I said ‘Let’s just do it and have fun.’”

It worked out for Cannon Falls as the Bombers qualified for state with a third place finish at the Section 1A tournament and came in eighth at the Class 1A state dance team tournament in the Jazz Division at the Target Center.

“They nailed it,” Salisbury said. “Our turns were on, all the rotations were on.”

Cannon Falls struggled during marking time Friday morning but stepped up when it mattered, nearly making the finals. The top six teams qualify for finals competition and the Bombers placed higher than Section 1A runner-up St. Charles.

“Our goal was to beat them,” Salisbury said. “The girls were having so much fun with it. When it comes to jazz, we’re not a very pretty (routine) team. The kids did great.”

On Saturday, Cannon Falls will attempt to continue its run of finishing in the top two at state in the high kick. The Bombers have placed first or second for the last nine years.

“We had a great practice on Monday and it just got better,” Salisbury said of Cannon Falls’ high kick routine. “You sit back and watch in awe. That’s all they’ve been thinking about. I don’t think I’m going to have to do too much.”

Cannon Falls competes in the high kick at approximately 12:18 p.m. today at the Target Center.

Tags: cannon falls, sports, prep, dance, zumbrota, mazeppa