Brainerd in Class 3A, Totino-Grace in 2A and Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd in 1A win dance high kick titles

In a sea of sequins, the Minnesota dance team state championships wrapped up Saturday night at Target Center.

Two days after it began and over 8,000 fans later, all of Minnesota’s high school dance royalty was officially crowned — but for many in Saturday’s high kick competition, the hardware was nothing new.

In Class 3A, the Brainerd Kixsters successfully defended last year’s title with a tight victory over Eastview, to thunderous applause. Their routine, titled “Funky Fifties,” was danced to a mashup of ’50s songs and contemporary rap.

Led by legendary coach Cindy Clough in her 49th season, the Kixsters have had ups and downs.

“We are literally best friends, and we’ve grown up with each other,” said Brainerd senior Hayden Freed. “Seeing all the trials for the Kixsters, from wishing we could be top three to now placing first two years in a row, it’s just so amazing.”

Eastview was runner-up, and Sartell took third.

In Class 2A, Totino-Grace also held down the fort. The reigning champion held on to its title, presiding over runner-up Benilde-St. Margaret’s and third-place Orono.

“It means the world. It means the whole world,” junior Maria Morrison said with a big smile. “This team, we just kept pushing. We were never satisfied. It’s easy to perform when you know that your ride-or-dies are doing it right next to you.”

The Class 1A competition did not see a repeat champion from last year, but it did see a repeat champion from last night. Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd picked up the high kick title, just 24 hours after winning the jazz championship. Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd danced to the song “Hope” by NF.

The second title of the weekend, which head coach Carly Wader said felt “surreal,” was built on the team’s strong personal foundation.

“It’s a sisterhood,” she said. “I honestly feel like that’s what drives the team.”

Senior Addy Tufto backed up her coach’s take.

“Every single girl is just like a sister,” Tufto said. “Every single day I only want to be around these people and my second family. They refuel me.”

Yellow Medicine East was runner-up in Class 1A, and Holdingford, the reigning champion, came in third.