And were back at it again! Last weekend was filled with some season best performances that I saw from 2AAA and 4AAA (hello Chanhassen Kick!) along with some great scores being posted from around the state! Make sure you get yourself into a gym as I expect this weekend to be no different, but if you’re unable to don’t worry: each competition this weekend has a live steam. You can find all of the Order of Competition’s and Live Stream details in the Schedule tab. Let’s dive into a little preview to see what’s to come.

1A – Lake City plays host for what should be a great matchup of teams looking to punch their tickets to state. On the Jazz side of things we have Zumbrota-Mazeppa entering the competition averaging a 67.5 with their top score of 7.1 coming from Routine Effectiveness. They look poised to be taking the Jazz title with strong routines coming from Cannon Falls, Wabasha-Kellogg and Lake City. These teams are averaging all within just over two points from each other and will be looking for that 2nd and 3rd place medal with St. Charles not too far behind also averaging in the 50s. Kick should be just as filled with excitement as we have four teams averaging in the 60s: Cannon Falls, Lake City, Wabasha-Kellogg, and Zumbrota-Mazeppa. Lake City and Wabasha-Kellogg are actually tied on the Section Leaderboard with a 63.9 each. Last season Cannon Falls just missed out on advancing to state in Kick, a first after a 20-year run, so they will be looking to return to the Target Center floor.

2A – Defending Class A State Champions, St. Cloud Cathedral, will be making their way to New London-Spicer to see if they can once again come out on top as double section champions to advance to state. Holdingford, New London-Spicer and St. Cloud Cathedral each average in the 60s in Jazz. Host New London-Spicer made program history last season by advancing to state in Jazz and will be looking to repeat. Over in Kick the same three teams are averaging in the 60s with Holdingford currently sitting at the top ahead of the Crusaderettes. Will we see a new 2A Kick Champion be crowned? You’ll have to wait until Saturday afternoon to see.

3A – Our final Class A section tournament will take place at Montevideo High School and this one is jam packed with talent. Three of the top 5 teams in Class A Kick (based on Section Leaderboard averages) will be competing at Montevideo. This includes LQPV-DB (69.2), host Montevideo (66.6) and Yellow Medicine East (70.4). Scores are tight between LQPV-DB and YME once again this season so it should make for quite an exciting competition especially since the Shadows will be competing last. In Jazz we have the same three programs at the top of their section leaderboard with the Silhouettes once again leading the section with an average of 67. Worthington isn’t too far behind Montevideo so they will also be looking to make that trip to the Target Center. The last time the program advanced was in back-to-back season sin 2016 and 2017.

1AA – Austin leads in both Jazz and Kick and should be looking for a double section title and from there things get interesting. On the Jazz side South St. Paul and Northfield are each averaging in the 60s with Albert Lea and Simley not too far behind. It has been a few seasons since we’ve seen any of these teams at State in jazz. Simley last advanced in 2021, South St. Paul 2018, Northfield 2007 and Albert Lea 1997. It will certainly be an explosive gym for whoever claims 2nd and 3rd. In Kick, Austin and Faribault are each poised to make the trip once again with the 3rd spot looking to be a battle between Albert Lea and Northfield. These teams are separated by just one tenth of a point. Northfield last advanced in 2007. Since 1996 (the furthest records back on the site) Albert Lea has not advanced to state in Kick so this may be a program first if they punch that ticket this year.

3AA – You’ve heard about the talent pool that is 2AAA, but have you taken a look at the stats in 3AA? Four teams average in the top 12 in the state on the Jazz side with Belle Plaine JUST outside at 13 and in Kick five teams average in the top 12 with once again Belle Plaine just outside at 13. It looks like we will be in for a repeat of last year on the Jazz side with Orono taking top honors followed by Mound Westonka then Holy Family, but Delano has been putting up some strong scores this season so I wouldn’t count them out. Each of those four teams are averaging in the 70s. On the Kick side Mound Westonka looks to take the title once again with Holy Family and Orono not too far behind. Again, do not count out Delano as they also are averaging in the 70s and have quite a strong kick routine this season.

1AAA – This section, like 3AA, also has five programs averaging in the top 12 of the state in jazz and each are averaging above an 80. The Lightning are averaging over five points ahead of the pack with a 90.3 and both Lakeville North and Lakeville South follow behind with 85.1 and 82.2. Eagan has been posting strong jazz numbers all season with a powerful jazz routine. 2013 was the last time the Wildcats advanced to state so they are certainly growing and ready to make a comeback. Over in Kick it will look to be a repeat of 2023 with Eastview taking the title followed by Lakeville North then Lakeville South.

3AAA – I haven’t mentioned it yet, but 3AA, 1AAA and 3AAA will all be hosted at Bloomington Kennedy High School. 3AA and 3AAA will be alternating back-to-back in the morning with 1AAA wrapping things up in the evening. 3AAA has quite the tight scores to be looking at with Blaine, Centennial, Duluth East, Forest Lake, Mounds View, Spring Lake Park, and Two Rivers all averaging within under 5 points of each other. Blaine currently leads in jazz with a 72.4 and Centennial right behind with 72.1. In Kick we have four teams averaging in the 70s with Blaine once again leading the section with a 72.8. Centennial, Forest Lake and Spring Lake Park follow close behind. Once again, anything can happen and it will be exciting to see which programs in both styles advance.

To see the average scores leading into the Section Tournament be sure to check out the Section Leaderboards or the the Season Composite. Once again, Good Luck to all teams competing and advancement or not be PROUD of what you put on the floor this weekend!