|
The IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals turn five as they return to Bloomington Coliseum on Friday and Saturday, January 27-28. Friday’s prelims will feature 90 total teams (30 per class) and the Top 12 teams in each class based on Friday’s results will move on to perform again in Saturday’s finals.
Every performance this weekend will be streamed live on the NFHS Network via www.IHSA.tv with a subscription, while recaps from Saturday’s finals will also be rebroadcast on Comcast Sports Net Chicago on numerous dates beginning February 5 (click for times/channel info).
The State Finals are dedicated to the memory of 2017 IHSA Dance Official of the Year Paula Hess, an IHSa official and past state final tournament manager, who passed in August.
For more info on the rules and regulations of the IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals, check out our dance primer from the inaugural event in 2013.
Qualifier information and previews for each class are posted below:
CLASS 1A
First-Time Qualifiers: 5, Centralia; Johnston City; Morrison; Seneca; Sterling
Five-Time Qualifiers: 9, Aurora Central Catholic; Highland; IC Catholic; Johnsburg; Mascoutah; Mattoon; Morris; Normal University; Quincy Notre Dame
Sectional Champions: Morris (92.23); Genoa-Kingston (91.37); Highland (89.87); Tolono Unity (87.93); Montini (84.53)
Highland became the first two-time champion (2014) in Class 1A’s brief history a year ago, as the dancing Bulldogs edged Morris for the state title 92.84 to 92.52. Both programs are back again after winning Sectional titles last week, as Morris vies to record its fifth Top 10 finish in as many years. Genoa-Kingston won a Sectional crown this season after back-to-back Top 10 finishes (5th, 10th). Sycamore earned its first hardware in IHSA Dance with a third-place finish last year and returns again in 2017, as does five-time qualifier Aurora Central Catholic, who just missed a trophy with a school-best fourth-place finish in 2016. Montini made a statement a year ago, placing in the Top 10 in its first state final appearance, and now returns with the momentum of a Sectional title, while fellow Sectional champ Tolono Unity hopes to build on its best finish (7th) in school history a year ago. Johnsburg (7th) and IC Catholic (9th) each recorded their first-ever Top 10 finish last year, while fellow five-time qualifiers Mascoutah, Mattoon and Quincy Notre Dame all look to crack the Top 10 for the first time this weekend.
CLASS 2A
First-Time Qualifiers: 1, Dunlap
Five-Time Qualifiers: 8, Crystal Lake Central; Crystal Lake South; Fenton; Hinsdale South; Libertyville; Lincoln-Way West; Oak Forest; Vernon Hills
Sectional Champions: Blue Island Eisenhower (92.6); Lake Forest (92.03); Geneva (92.0); Lincoln-Way West (91.0); Maine East (89.47)
Geneva completed its threepeat in Class 2A a year ago and returns this weekend looking to add to its dynasty after winning its own Sectional last Saturday. Last year’s runner-up Lake Zurich will vie for its third straight state final trophy, having placed third in Class 3A in 2015. Libertyville, who finished third in 2016, and Lincoln-Way West are two other mainstays who will challenge for the title, as both programs are five-time qualifiers who won Sectionals this year. Wauconda recorded its first-ever Top 10 finish in 2016 and just missed a trophy after placing fourth. Crystal Lake Central had its best finish (5th) last year since winning the Class 2A state title in the inaugural competition in 2013. Maine East hadn’t qualified for state since 2013, but put an exclamation point on its return by winning a Sectional title on Saturday. Fellow Sectional champ Lake Forest hopes to make its return to the Top 10 this weekend, a position the Scouts haven’t been in since placing second in 2013. Blue Island Eisenhower made both of its Top 10 finishes in odd years, and hopes that its Sectional champion squad can make 2017 its best finish ever after placing eighth and tenth in 2013 and 2015, respectively.
CLASS 3A
First-Time Qualifiers: 2, Harlem; Berwyn-Cicero Morton
Five-Time Qualifiers: 9, Fremd; Lake Park; Maine South; Mundelein; Neuqua Valley; Sandburg; South Elgin; Stevenson; York
Sectional Champions: South Elgin (93.6); Minooka (93.53); Stevenson (93.23); Maine South (93.2); Neuqua Valley (85.83)
Stevenson remains one of the state’s most consistent programs, as the Patriots placed second a year ago to win the program’s third trophy in four years, and now looks to follow last Saturday’s Sectional crown with the school’s first state title. Standing in the way are a slew of talented squads, starting with two-time defending state champs Neuqua Valley, a fellow Sectional winner. Meanwhile, Sectional champ South Elgin won its first state final trophy in school history last year by placing third following a year hiatus from the Top 10. Five-time qualifier and 2014 state champ Lake Park is also back, while Mundelein hopes to continue its ascent in the standings after back-to-back Top 10 state finishes. Maine South hasn’t been able to reach the Top 10 since its state championship in 2013, but this year’s Sectional winning team could be the squad to reverse that fortune. Minooka has been among the Top 10 the past three seasons and hopes to ride the wave of a Sectional title to the school’s first dance trophy. Warren always seems to be near hardware contention, as the school followed 2013’s third-place trophy by finishing fifth twice (2014, 2016).
|
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
5th annual State Series
5th year at Bloomington Coliseum
SITE
Bloomington Coliseum
Directions
HOST
Bloomington-Normal CVB
BN Sports Commission
SCHEDULE
Prelim Team Order
Finals Team Order
Friday, January 27
Session 1
10:15 AM - 1A Prelims
1:30 PM - 1A Finalists announced
Session 2
3:15 PM - 2A/3A Prelims (rotate between 2A/3A)
7:45 PM - 2A/3A Finalists announced
Saturday, January 28
Session 3
11:00 AM - 1A Finals
12:15 PM - 1A Awards
2:00 PM - 2A/3A Finals (rotate between 2A/3A)
3:45 PM - 2A Awards
4:00 PM - 3A Awards
TICKETS
$10 per day
WATCH
All performances available LIVE on www.IHSA.tv
CSN Chicago Finals Recap Rebroadcast Schedule
RESULTS
Friday Prelim Results
Saturday Final Results
STUDENT SAFETY
Play Smart. Play Hard.
Take the PSPH pledge...
OFFICIAL STATE FINAL
Gear from Minerva
Photos from VIP
Souvenir Program
SOCIAL MEDIA #IHSA
Twitter - @IHSAstate
Instagram - @IHSA_IL
Facebook.com/IHSA.IL
Classic IHSA YouTube Video
STATE SUPPORTERS
Country Financial
Wilson Sporting Goods
Gatorade
MaxPreps
HISTORY & RECORDS
2017 Sectional Results
Record Book & Past Champions
|