Sports
Benilde-St. Margaret’s Dance Team Gets Motivated for Sections
The Knightettes look to earn a spot at next weekend's state meet with a strong showing Saturday.
For the dance team, continual preparation is equally as important as team unity.
That’s why the Knightettes decided to use a motivational tool heading into Saturday’s Section 1AA meet in Albert Lea. Each of the 13 girls on the Jazz squad picked a quote, creating a chain of inspirational thoughts leading into the team’s most important time of year.
“We count one down every day,” senior co-captain Madeline Moore said. “It’s great to keep us motivated and keep us focused on what we need to do.”
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The Knightettes will compete at 11 a.m. Saturday and hope to reach the Class AA meet in both High Kick and Jazz like they did a year ago. BSM took first in the section Jazz meet in 2010, and placed third behind the Academy of Holy Angels and Austin in High Kick.
Co-coach Kelly McGinnis said all of the team’s time spent together throughout the winter—both on and off the dance floor—has been building toward this weekend.
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“Our goal is to do better, to push harder and do better, and to get more connected as a team,” McGinnis said. “When you feel more connected as a team in everything you do, whether it be in practice or outside doing team bonding things, you dance better as a team.”
McGinnis said she and co-coach Tracy Standal emphasize having the dancers set weekly goals.
“They don’t set them about how they dance but the type of teammate they are or the type of teammate they want to be,” McGinnis said. “The dance brings us together.”
In order to advance to state in either Jazz or High Kick, the Knightettes must take one of the top three spots in either category Saturday. Last year, BSM did just that and finished second at the state meet in Jazz and sixth in High Kick.
This time around, BSM is confident it can once again make it through the section meet and have a shot at a state title.
And the Knightettes are counting down the days one chain at a time.
“The biggest thing is staying positive and just staying focused,” senior co-captain Alexa Kubinski said. “Doing what’s best for the team.”