Mon Feb 17 09:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Brainerd Defends State Kick Title, Crosby-Ironton Achieves Best Finish in a Decade
**MINNEAPOLIS, MN** – Brainerd High School’s kick team successfully defended its Class 3A state title at the Target Center on February 15th, overcoming adversity and illness to secure a decisive victory. The team triumphed by a margin of five total points and five rank points, earning top marks from all but one judge for their performance.
Their routine, specifically designed for the Target Center’s large stage, impressed judges with its perfect score of 80 in both routine and visual effectiveness. Their choreography also garnered high marks, scoring 159 out of 160, showcasing exceptional creativity and difficulty. Brainerd’s score of 73 in kick difficulty was the highest in the finals. Coach Cindy Clough lauded her team’s performance, emphasizing their hard work and resilience in the face of a month-long whooping cough outbreak which caused them to miss competitions earlier in the season. Sophomores Camryn Anderson and Beatrice Hartwig were named to the Class 3A All-Tournament team.
Meanwhile, in the Class 1A competition, Crosby-Ironton (C-I) achieved their best state finish in 10 years, placing fourth overall. Despite a close competition, C-I’s high-energy, flawless performance impressed their coach, Rachel Norwood. Their top scores came in kick difficulty and routine effectiveness, showcasing a significant improvement from their preliminary performance. Isabella Haukos and Aaliyah Young from C-I received Class 1A All-Tournament honors. Norwood expressed pride in her team’s performance and the strong support they received from their community. Aitkin also participated, leaving the competition feeling proud of their team’s hard work and improvement throughout the season.
First Piper 