Two Kernels named to all-state cheer, dance teams
Oct. 22—SIOUX FALLS — The Mitchell High School competitive cheer and dance teams closed their seasons on Saturday at the Class AA state competition at the Premier Center.
Two Kernels were honored for their achievements this season. Mitchell junior Joslin Sommerville was one of the selections to the South Dakota Cheerleading Coaches Association' all-state competitive cheer team.
On the Class AA all-state dance team, Keenah Escobin was a selection for Mitchell High School, as selected by the South Dakota Dance Coaches Association.
Among cheer teams, Sioux Falls Jefferson won the state championship with a score of 288 points, followed by Sioux Falls O'Gorman in second at 282 points and Harrisburg in third at 279.5. Mitchell scored 219.5 points for 12th place.
In the dance scoring, Brandon Valley won the state title with 296 points, followed by Sioux Falls Washington with 292.75 points and Yankton in third at 285.25 points. The Kernels finished in 13th place with a score of 247.25. Mitchell had a strong effort in the hip-hop scoring with a 262 mark, tying for fifth place in the category but finished 13th with a mark of 232.5 in the pom division, leading to the 247.25 overall points average.
In the Class A competition on Friday, a pair of dynasties continued. Dakota Valley won its 14th consecutive state championship in competitive dance, cruising to the state title with 286 points, finishing in front of second place Tea Area (256). Gregory finished third with a score of 233.25, followed by Beresford (231.75) and Platte-Geddes/Andes Central/Dakota Christian in fifth place with 227.75 points. Winner Area was sixth with a score of 223.75 points.
In the Class A cheer competition, Sioux Valley won its 17th cheer title in a row. The Cossacks won the state title with 249 points, well ahead of second-place Tea Area at 236. Winner Area finished third with 221 points, followed by Dell Rapids St. Mary in fourth at 209.5 points and Deubrook Area in fifth with 207.5 points.
Area Class A all-state competitive cheer selections included Gregory's Cindy Khuu and Kaydence Klein, Parkston's London Sudbeck and Rory Juhnke, Platte-Geddes' Kalee Dykshorn and Winner Area's Leila Balsiger and Saylor Schuyler. Sudbeck and Khuu are all-state selections for a second year in a row.
Klein and Dykshorn were also selections on the Class A all-state dance team, along with teammate Madison Graber, Winner Area's Bailey Fairbanks and Emily Sachtjen
PGACDC's Piper Rasmussen. Both Rasmussen and Dykshorn were repeat selections for the Black Panthers from 2022, as were Graber and Klein for Gregory on the all-state squads.
