Technical High School senior Nicole Cielinski and freshmen Kayann Hanisch, Anna Hanratty and Malea Miller were part of this year’s successful Tech Tigerettes dance team, who advanced to the Minnesota State High School League Dance Team Tournament after placing in their sectional. 

 

Cielinkski and Hanratty are from Clear Lake, Miller from Clearwater, and Hanisch from St. Augusta.

 

The Tigerettes consist of two teams, jazz and high kick. All four girls are on the high kick team, with Miller also on the jazz team. Both teams advanced to the state tournament, held Feb. 17 – 18 at the Target Center, where they performed well but didn’t make it into finals.

 

At State, the Minnesota Association of Dance Teams (MADT) recognized the team as an Academic All-State Team. To receive this designation the cumulative grade point average of the team’s ninth through twelfth graders must be 3.3 or higher.

 

Cielinski has been on the Tigerettes dance team since seventh grade.

 

“We were so happy with the results,” she said. “We were hoping to final, but were very happy with the way our team performed.” 

 

“It was my first year on the team,” said Hanisch. “It was exciting and nerve-racking waiting for them to hopefully call your names.”

 

Miller has been in dance since she was four and in the Tigerettes since seventh grade. 

 

“I was really excited just to dance on the state floor,” she said. “Our dance team had a really good performance.”

 

Hanratty was in gymnastics for five years before joining the Tigerettes in seventh grade.

 

“Before we danced [at state] I was thinking I’m just so happy to be here and doing what I love at this type of place,” she said.

 

Both Tigerette teams did well throughout the season, placing first in jazz at Alexandria and Willmar CLC (Central Lakes Conference), and first in high kick at the Anoka Invitational. 

 

They placed second in jazz at Anoka and Brainerd and second in high kick at Alexandria, and third in high kick at Brainerd.

 

At the Forest Lake Sectional Feb.  4 they placed second against 14 teams in both jazz and high kick, which earned them a place at State competition.

 

“I’m very proud of all the Tigerettes; it was an amazing year,” said coach Sue Arnold. “The girls worked so hard and were so dedicated. They grew so much as dancers and athletes.”

 

“Nicole is an amazing dancer, and more importantly, a leader,” said Arnold, speaking about the girls individually. “I can always count on her to be a mentor to younger dancers.”

 

“Malea is a very strong athlete, hard worker and talented dancer,” she said. “Anna is such a hard worker and has beautiful high kicks.”

 

“Kayann is one of the most improved young athletes this year. I look forward to the future of her dancing.”

 

Although Cielinski will be moving on to college, the other girls plan to try out for the Tigerettes again next year, with the goal of working hard and improving.

 

“I originally wanted to join because everyone would say how much fun it was,” said Hanisch. “It is, and the girls are all so close and so nice.”

 

“I really enjoy dancing,” shared Hanratty. “I really love the people and how supportive everyone is.”

 

“The connections you make with people and the experiences you have are so nice,” said Miller.

 

The Tigerettes have some of the youngest dancers and are from one of the smallest schools in the AAA Division, competing against schools much larger than themselves whose teams consist of only juniors and seniors.