Harrisburg, Brandon Valley, Sioux Valley & Dakota Valley win cheer, dance titles

Roger Merriam, Watertown Public Opinion
·5 min read

Harrisburg's cheer team and Brandon Valley's dance squad captured overall Class AA titles on Saturday during the final day of the 2022 South Dakota State Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships in the Watertown Civic Arena.

Harrisburg won its first competitive cheer title with a score of 290. Defending champion Sioux Falls O'Gorman finished second for the third time in four years with a score of 288, followed by Sioux Falls Jefferson (286), Brandon Valley (272), Brookings (268) and Watertown (261).

The competitive dance division again came down to Brandon Valley and Sioux Falls Washington. Brandon Valley repeated as the champion by edging Sioux Falls Washington 298.0-297.5. The two schools have finished first or second every year since 2015. Washington won six-straight titles from 2015-2020 and Brandon Valley has won the past two years.

Harrisburg was third (288.25), followed by Yankton (285.5), Sioux Falls O'Gorman (284.5) and Aberdeen Central (265.25).

With its cheer squad looking on, Brandon Valley High School's dance team performs its pom routine during the Class AA portion of the South Dakota State Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in the Watertown Civic Arena. The Lynx won the pom division and repeated as the overall state dance champions.
With its cheer squad looking on, Brandon Valley High School's dance team performs its pom routine during the Class AA portion of the South Dakota State Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in the Watertown Civic Arena. The Lynx won the pom division and repeated as the overall state dance champions.

Eighteen teams competed in each division.

CLASS AA COMPETITIVE CHEER

Grand Champion: 1. Harrisburg, 290.0; 2. Sioux Falls O'Gorman, 288.0; 3. Sioux Falls Jefferson, 286.0; 4. Brandon Valley, 272.0; 5. Brookings, 268.0; 6. Watertown, 261.0; 7. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 248.0; 8. Sioux Falls Washington, 242.5; 9. Rapid City Stevens, 238.5; 10. Mitchell, 225.5; 11. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 215.5; 12. Rapid City Central, 203.5; 13. Douglas, 200.5; 14. Pierre T.F. Riggs , 200.0; 15. Yankton, 197.5; 16. Huron, 195.5; 17. Aberdeen Central, 193.0; 18. Sturgis Brown, 174.0.

A Sioux Falls O'Gorman cheerleader holds up a sign during the Class AA portion of the South Dakota State Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in the Watertown Civic Arena. O'Gorman finished second in cheer.
A Sioux Falls O'Gorman cheerleader holds up a sign during the Class AA portion of the South Dakota State Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in the Watertown Civic Arena. O'Gorman finished second in cheer.

CLASS AA COMPETITIVE DANCE

Grand Champion: 1. Brandon Valley, 298.0; 2. Sioux Falls Washington, 297.5; 3. Harrisburg, 288.25; 4. Yankton, 285.5; 5. Sioux Falls O'Gorman, 284.5; 6. Aberdeen Central, 265.25; 7. Pierre T.F. Riggs, 264.0; 8. Sioux Falls Lincoln, 261.25; 9. Mitchell, 257.0; 10. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 256.75; 11. Rapid City Central, 254.25; 12. Rapid City Stevens, 246.5; 13. Huron, 246.0; 14. Watertown, 246.0; 15. Spearfish, 243.5; 16. Brookings, 227.75; 17. Douglas-St. Thomas More, 212.5; 18. Sturgis Brown, 203.25.

Hip Hop: 1. Sioux Falls Washington, 298.0; 2. Harrisburg, 296.0; 3. Sioux Falls O'Gorman, 286.5; 4. Sioux Falls Lincoln, 274.0; 5. Aberdeen Central, 273.0; 6. Mitchell, 266.5; 7. Pierre T.F. Riggs, 265.0; 8. Rapid City Central, 262.5; 9. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 250.0; 10. Rapid City Stevens, 244.0; 11. Huron, 236.0; 12. Watertown, 231.5; 13. Brookings, 223.5; 14. Sturgis Brown, 201.5.

Watertown's dance team is pictured performing its hip hop routine during the Class AA portion of the South Dakota State Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in the Civic Arena.
Watertown's dance team is pictured performing its hip hop routine during the Class AA portion of the South Dakota State Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in the Civic Arena.

Jazz: 1. Brandon Valley, 298.5; 2. Sioux Falls Washington, 297.0; 3. Yankton, 284.5; 4. Harrisburg, 280.5; 5. Aberdeen Central, 257.5; 6. Huron, 256.0; 7. Rapid City Stevens, 249.0; 8. Sioux Falls Lincoln, 248.5; 9. Mitchell, 247.5; 10. Spearfish, 240.0; 11. Sturgis Brown, 205.0; 12. Douglas-St. Thomas More, 201.5.

Pom: 1. Brandon Valley, 297.5; 2. Yankton, 286.5; 3. Sioux Falls O'Gorman, 282.5; 4. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 263.5; 5. Pierre T.F. Riggs, 263.0; 6. Watertown, 260.5; 7. Spearfish, 247.0; 8. Rapid City Central, 246.0; 9. Brookings, 232.0; 10. Douglas-St. Thomas More, 223.5.

Members of Sioux Falls Washington's dance team perform their hip hop routine during the Class AA portion of the South Dakota State Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in the Watertown Civic Arena. Washington won the hip hop division and finished second in the overall standings.
Members of Sioux Falls Washington's dance team perform their hip hop routine during the Class AA portion of the South Dakota State Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in the Watertown Civic Arena. Washington won the hip hop division and finished second in the overall standings.

CLASS A (FRIDAY)

State championship streaks continued Friday night for Sioux Valley's competitive cheer and Dakota Valley's competitive dance teams.

Sioux Valley won the cheer division for the 16th-straight year with a score of 279.0. Dell Rapids St. Mary was second at 2205. Dakota Valley won the dance division for the 13th-straight year with an overall score of 297.25, followed by Beresford at 282.75.

There were 21 cheer and eight dance teams that competed.

Sioux Valley High School's competitive cheer team won its 16th consecutive state title during the State Class A Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022 in the Watertown Civic Arena.
Sioux Valley High School's competitive cheer team won its 16th consecutive state title during the State Class A Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022 in the Watertown Civic Arena.

CLASS A COMPETITIVE CHEER

Grand Champion: 1. Sioux Valley, 279.0; 2. Dell Rapids St. Mary, 220.5; 3. Parkston, 217.5; 4. Platte-Geddes/Andes Central/Dakota Christian 217.0; 5. Winner Area, 215.5; 6. Dakota Valley, 210.0; 7. (Tie) St. Thomas More and Tea Area, 209.0; 9. Bon Homme, 206.5; 10. Dell Rapids, 203.0; 11. Belle Fourche, 199.5; 12. Wolsey-Wessington, 199.0; 13. Faulkton Area, 198.5; 14. Elkton-Lake Benton 196.0; 15. Deubrook Area, 192.5; 16. Gregory, 192.0; 17. Iroquois-Lake Preston, 181.0; 18. Custer, 176.5; 19. Wagner, 167.0; 20. Hot Springs, 159.5; 21. Lyman, 139.5.

Large Squad: 1. Sioux Valley, 279.0; 2. Dell Rapids St. Mary, 220.5; 3. Parkston, 217.5; 4. Platte-Geddes/Andes Central/Dakota Christian 217.0; 5. Winner Area, 215.5; 6. Tea Area, 209.0; 7. Elkton-Lake Benton 196.0; 8. Iroquois-Lake Preston, 181.0..

Small Squad: 1. Dakota Valley, 210.0; 2. St. Thomas More, 209.0; 3. Bon Homme, 206.5; 4. Dell Rapids, 203.0; 5. Belle Fourche, 199.5; 6. Wolsey-Wessington, 199.0; 7. Faulkton Area, 198.5; 8. Deubrook Area, 192.5; 9. Gregory, 192.0; 10. Custer, 176.5; 11. Wagner, 167.0; 12. Hot Springs, 159.5; 13. Lyman, 139.5.

Dakota Valley High School's competitive dance team won its won its 13th consecutive state title during the State Class A Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022 in the Watertown Civic Arena.
Dakota Valley High School's competitive dance team won its won its 13th consecutive state title during the State Class A Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022 in the Watertown Civic Arena.

CLASS A COMPETITIVE DANCE

Grand Champion: 1. Dakota Valley, 297.25; 2. Beresford, 282.75; 3. Tea Area, 261.25; 4. Platte-Geddes/Andes Central/Dakota Christian, 260.75; 5. Winner Area, 254.25; 6. Gregory, 227.25; 7. Belle Fourche, 200.0; 8. Lakota Tech, 180.0.

Hip Hop: 1. Beresford, 284.0; 2. Tea Area, 264.5; 3. Winner Area, 250.5; 4. Gregory, 239.5; 5. Belle Fourche, 196.0; 6. Lakota Tech, 176.5.

Jazz: 1. Dakota Valley, 298.5; 2. Platte-Geddes/Andes Central/Dakota Christian, 258.5; 3. Lakota Tech, 183.5.

Pom: 1. Dakota Valley, 296.0; 2. Beresford, 281.5; 3. Platte-Geddes/Andes Central/Dakota Christian, 263.0; 4. (Tie) Tea Area and Winner Area, 258.0; 6. Gregory, 215.0; 7. Belle Fourche, 204.0.

Watertown High School's cheer squad competes in the Class AA portion of the South Dakota State Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in the Civic Arena. The Arrows placed sixth out of 18 teams.
Watertown High School's cheer squad competes in the Class AA portion of the South Dakota State Competitive Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in the Civic Arena. The Arrows placed sixth out of 18 teams.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Class AA teams competed Saturday, A teams Friday in the Civic Arena.