“This was the first time this season that we competed against Zimmerman and as coaches we were interested to see what competition the Thunder would bring to the mix,” said Head Coach Laura Anderson. 

 

“We learned that the team is definitely a threat in both kick and jazz as Zimmerman placed ahead of Becker in the varsity high kick category, but we outscored Zimmerman in varsity jazz.”

 

Becker took home the second place spot in varsity jazz with an average score of 61.2, following the highly-touted St. Cloud Crusaderettes, who averaged 74.8. Zimmerman had an average score of 58.8, taking third place with Albany taking fourth at 56.

 

In varsity high kick, Becker took third place  with an average score of 64.4. In the first place was Cathedral at 81, followed by Zimmerman at 69, and Albany at 63.8 (fourth place).

 

The Thunder athletes proved to be strong at the JV level as well, taking second place in both the high kick and jazz events. Cathedral took first place in both events. The Becker JV athletes earned third place in both the high kick and jazz categories.

 

“We are always striving to improve our scores for each competition from year to year and we are enjoying some significant score increases from our all-conference meet at the end of last season,” said Anderson. “The varsity jazz average score was 51.3, so our varsity athletes have earned almost a 10 point jump  since the end of our last season.” 

 

Anderson says she has  11 athletes competing in varsity jazz as opposed to  six last year. 

 

“We are demonstrating the skills and technique that I had hoped we would be at this point in the season,” she said. “The girls have worked hard and have worked out of their comfort zones in order to afforded such a strong gain in our scores.”

 

The varsity high kick team, guided by Coach Julie Baloun, has been making impressive strides as well.

 

“In varsity high kick, we averaged 55.67 at our conference meet last January,” she said. “At 64.4 at this conference meet, we achieved an almost nine point gain. As in jazz, the girls are performing a routine unlike any we have choreographed in the past.” 

 

Baloun says this season’s high kick routine is very demanding from an endurance standpoint. 

 

“It has about 65 high kicks layered with rigorous dance choreography,” Baloun said.

 

With its third place positioning, the JV squad proves the future is bright for the Becker Dazzlers.

 

“I am very pleased with the JV high kick and jazz teams as they have seen similar growth in scores since the January conference meet,” said JV Coach Bridget Teigland.

 

The Dazzlers are competing at the Rocori High School invitational  today (Saturday). The competition begins at 11 a.m.