Dance team controversy on high school league's Monday agenda

As high school state tournaments pick up full speed this week with boys' tennis, softball and track and field, a lingering controversy from last winter is scheduled for action from the Minnesota State High School League.

The league's board of directors, meeting on Monday, is scheduled to discuss and vote on the dance team awards ceremony in February that resulted in a boycott by five teams.

Coaches and dancers were upset by Faribault's Class 3A title-winning routine, which had drawn complaints for plagiarism before the tournament. League officials had determined that the routine did not violate its rules.

Coaches at Eastview, Chaska, Wayzata and Lake- ville South were subsequently disciplined by their respective districts after an investigation by a Minneapolis law firm. Coaches at Eden Prairie left the school's program.

It's not clear whether the league will take further action. The matter is expected to be discussed in committee before the regular board meeting.

By the end of the week, state champions in three spring sports will be determined in tournaments beginning Tuesday. A look at what's on tap:

When: Tuesday through Friday

Where: Class 2A is at Baseline Tennis Center at the University of Minnesota. Class 1A is at Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in south Minneapolis.

What: Team preliminaries on Tuesday, finals on Wednesday. Individual preliminaries on Thursday. Finals on Friday.

When: Thursday and Friday

Where: Caswell Park, North Mankato

What: Quarterfinals and semifinals Thursday in Class 3A, 2A and 1A. Championship games on Friday.

When: Friday and Saturday

Where: Klas Field, Hamline University in St. Paul

What: Mostly preliminaries in Class 2A and 1A on Friday except for finals in the 3,200-meter run and some field events. Finals in track events on Saturday, as well as preliminaries and finals in field events.