---

The Chisago Lakes dance team is sending their jazz competition team to state after finishing in third place in the Section 2AA meet on Saturday, February 3.

The girls beat out some stiff competition from Duluth Denfeld, Hermantown, Zimmerman and North Branch for the coveted third berth to the state tourney. It’s always a tough section with private schools Totino-Grace and Benilde-St. Margaret’s usually claiming the top two spots.

“Everything we had been working on came together in our section meet performance,” Head Coach Kyra Wachholz said. “Everything clicked.”

Wachholz decided to do some team bonding exercises and events for a few days as they prepped for sections instead of just drilling routines again and again, and it paid off for them.

Zimmerman and North Branch had been on our heels all year, and we beat them,” Wachholz said. They also beat Hermantown and Duluth Denfeld pretty handily.

Wachholz noted her captains and how they performed in sections, as well as how they’ve helped shape the team this year, which is the coaches first in charge of the program. “Carolyn Rich, Ashli Salokar, Kacey Wachholz and Naomi Weiss have been a key part of what we’ve done this year,” the coach said. “They’ve helped me figure out what we want from the team and have been very supportive.”

Chisago Lakes will perform at the Target Center on Friday, February 16 at 3:12 p.m. as part of the state tourney.

“It would be wonderful to make it to the finals, which is top six,” Wachholz said. “But the main thing I want is for the girls to walk away feeling amazing and proud of what they’ve done this year. When they are older, I want them to be able to show their kids what they’ve accomplished.”

---