BRANDON VALLEY — In Cheer and Dance in South Dakota, the years pass, but the results remain the same, for the most part.
Sioux Falls Washington claimed the Class “AA” Dance title at the State Cheer and Dance Competition Saturday, winning all three dance disciplines en route to the title. Brandon Valley was runner-up, S.F. Roosevelt was third and the Huron Tigers finished fourth in the team race.
It was the same order of finish from last year’s state finals.
A new champion was crowned in “AA” Cheer, as S.F. O’Gorman moved up from its runner-up finish last year to claim the championship hardware this season, edging cross-town rivals Roosevelt and S.F. Washington. The Huron Tigers finished 9th in the team Cheer standings.

S.F. Washington won the Jazz, Pom and Hip Hop disciplines in the Dance competition, with Brandon Valley claiming the top spot in Kick. Huron took fifth in Jazz, finished sixth in Pom and claimed third place in Hip Hop for a solid finish to the 2018 season.
Washington amassed 293.83 points to top the host team from Brandon Valley, which had 287.67. Roosevelt was at 270.83 and Huron finished with 263.
The Cheer scores found O’Gorman comfortably on top, with 288.5 points, to Roosevelt’s 280 and the 278 totaled by S.F. Washington. Huron ended with 226.5 points, a half-point out of 8th and one point removed from 7th place.
In the Class “A” competitions, held Friday evening, Dakota Valley won its 9th straight Dance title, by more than 60 points over runner up Platte-Geddes, while Winner Area was third and St. Thomas More was fourth. Again, the finishing order was identical to last year’s state meet.
Dakota Valley won the Jazz, Pom and Kick event titles, while Platte-Geddes finished atop the Hip Hop ranks.
Sioux Valley defended its Class “A” Cheer title, followed by Dakota Valley and Dell Rapids. Sioux Valley had a comfortable margin as well, with more than 40 points separating first from second.
The Redfield-Doland Pheasants finished 9th in the “Small School” Cheer competition and 16th overall.