For the second consecutive year, Westonka returned home with a medal from the Minnesota State High School League Dance Team Tournament. The Hawkettes took third place overall in the Feb. 16 state jazz competition. The team placed fourth in an extremely close high kick competition the following day.

On Friday in the jazz competition, the Hawkettes had a strong performance in the preliminary round. Mound Westonka was announced as a state finalist along with fellow Section 3AA qualifiers Orono and Holy Family. Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Totino-Grace and Becker rounded out the final six.

The team proudly represented their school in the state jazz finals on Friday evening. The Hawkettes were awarded their second-ever medal in the jazz category, placing third behind Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Orono. At the jazz awards ceremony, two Hawkettes were named to the TruStone All-Tournament Team. Seniors Marissa Nelson and Maddie Bozikowski were announced for this honor, along with two members from each of the other jazz finalist teams.

The next day, the Hawkettes performed in the high kick competition, where they were named state champion in 2023. Following a strong prelim performance, they advanced to the state finals along with Orono, Delano, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Totino-Grace and Austin.

“Watching our athletes perform at the state tournament was such a celebration of all their hard work this season,” said assistant coach Margot Spanjers. “As coaches, we knew that our athletes had big goals, so to watch them put such strong performances on the floor for prelims and finals made us beyond proud.”

Following the state kick finals, the Hawkettes were tied in total points (16) with Benilde, but a tiebreaker bumped them just out of medal qualification. Totino-Grace took first place and Austin placed second. At the high kick awards ceremony, two Hawkettes were named to the Trustone All-Tournament Team. Seniors Ada Bedell and Maisie Wheeler were announced for this honor, along with two members from each of the other kick finalist teams.

The Hawkettes were also honored at the state tournament with the Team Academic Award, given to teams who have a combined GPA of 3.3 or higher. Wheeler and senior Cassie Nemecek were named to the elite Academic All-State Dance Team, an honor given to dancers who qualify for the state tournament as athletes, and who also have a cumulative GPA of 3.85 or higher.

Also receiving state-level recognition are four athletes who were selected to be a part of the Minnesota Association of Dance Team’s All-State Dance Team. Bedell and Nelson were named to the All-State Jazz Team, and Nemecek and senior Makenna Seitz to the All-State Kick Team. They will represent MWHS at the All-State dance performance held at Eastview High School on Saturday, March 2