Faribault Emeralds Dance Team Back to State

The Faribault Emeralds Dance Team are heading to state again.

The Emeralds qualified to compete in both Jazz and High Kick at state by finishing first in High Kick and second in Jazz at the Section 1AA meet over the weekend.

Thirteen teams competed in Jazz, with South St. Paul first followed by Faribault and Simley. Kasson-Mantorville was sixth. The top three advance to state.

Faribault won the High Kick competition, Austin was second and South St. Paul third. Northfield finished sixth and Kasson-Mantorville eighth with 14 teams competing. The top three advance to state. Sections were held in Albert Lea.

The Emeralds helped the Faribault Lions Club serve the community during the 50th annual Lions Pancake and Sausage Feast at the Eagles Club in Faribault on Sunday.

I visited with a couple of the ladies and they were excited to be heading back to state.

Last year they won the State Class AAA High Kick title amid some controversy that received national attention. This year Faribault is competing at the AA level.

The Minnesota State High School League believes they have a tournament in place that won't allow what happened a season ago when some metro teams protested Faribault's win by moving away from them during the awards ceremony at the Target Center.

In Section 1A Jazz competition, St. Charles finished first and Zumbrota-Mazeppa second to advance to state from the eight-team section.

Zumbrota-Mazeppa also qualified in the High Kick by placing third, with St. Charles and Lake City first and second.

Cannon Falls and Randolph are representing Section 2A in both competitions also. Randolph was first and Cannon Falls second in Jazz with eight teams competing.

Cannon Falls was first and Randolph second in High Kick with eight teams competing. Waterville-Elysian-Morristown finished sixth in Jazz and fourth in High Kick.

In Section 1AAA, Jazz state qualifiers were Eastview, Lakeville North and Prior Lake finishing in that order among the 14 teams competing. Lakeville South was fourth, Rochester Century fifth and Apple Valley sixth. The top three go to state.

In Section 1AAA High Kick, Eastview was first, Lakeville South second and Lakeville North third to qualify for this weekend's state competition. Apple Valley finished sixth of the 14 teams competing, Rochester Century was seventh and Rochester John Marshall eighth.

The state tournament is this Friday and Saturday at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.