Minnesota State High School League To Discuss Faribault Emeralds Danceline Controversy

The Minnesota State High School League is scheduled to discuss the Class AAA dance team award ceremony during their meeting Thursday at their office in Brooklyn Center. It's listed under discussion items, and the report will be presented by MSHSL Executive Director Dave Stead and MSHSL Associate Director Kevin Merkle.

You might recall when the controversy happened on Valentine's Day during the state dance team competition, the MSHSL posted a statement on Facebook saying they were going to investigate what happened during the awards ceremony and determine what course of action to take.

Six teams competed in the AAA finals at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The Faribault Emeralds had been accused of copying a dance from an out-of-state team. Before the tournament, all coaches were notified the MSHSL had investigated the allegation made about the High Kick routine and issued a statement saying in part, "After a review of the report from the school and a review of video and other information, there was complete consensus on the part of League staff and the Dance Team Rule Coordinators that a violation had not occurred. This ruling was made on Feb. 11. On Feb. 12, this ruling was sent via email to all coaches competing in the High Kick Division at the state tournament."

The other five teams competing in Class AAA did not abide by instructions to line up for the awards ceremony. Instead, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Lakeville South, Wayzata and Eastview teams stood away from the Faribault team and held hands in a protest of Faribault receiving first place. Because of the actions, Wayzata and Eastview were not awarded second- and third-place trophies.

It was announced this week that several Lakeville South High School staff had been issued written reprimands for their role in the protest. Reprimands were issued to head coach Genevieve Adler and assistant coaches Alexis Leone, Michelle Field, Stephanie Michael, Suzanne Thompson and Leah Kongsvik, and activities director Neal Strader.

Lakeville South hired the law firm Rupp, Anderson, Squires and Waldspurger to investigate and issue a report to their administration. According to the report, before the award ceremony the LSHS student athletes were instructed by their coaches to hold hands with members of the other finalist teams and stand apart from the winning Faribault team. According to the report, coaches met together before the finals and at first planned to boycott the final round of the competition.

The report goes on to say Lakeville South coaches opposed that plan because they wanted their team to have its chance to dance during the high kick finals. The report said the Lakeville South coaches were put in a "difficult position" by the other coaches, including some who have "significant influence in the Minnesota dance community" and were "passionate in their belief that the MSHSL did not appropriately handle the plagiarism allegations against Faribault."

Adler suggested the teams hold hands instead of boycotting, and others agreed. She phoned Strader and told him what they were planning to do. According to the report, Strader said he thought the teams holding hands during the awards would be the best option because it is a compromise and would allow Adler to "save face" and support the other four finalists involved in the coaches' meeting. The report also states coaches asked Lakeville South parents to cheer for all the Class AAA finalists, except Faribault.

Lakeville South Administrative Services Director Tony Massaros described the actions as "inappropriate and unacceptable" in the reprimands issued to the coaches and activities director. Masseros wrote what was most disturbing about the plan was, "student athletes were used by adults to express disagreement with a decision made by other adults." He said children should never be put in that kind of situation and added, "one purpose of co-curricular activities is to teach our students about the importance of sportsmanship and how to conduct ourselves with integrity in the face of adversity. The demonstrations during the awards ceremony did neither."

District 194 Communications Director Sarah Osland issued a statement shortly after the state competition and said Lakeville South dance team coaches and the athletic director did apologize to the Faribault team and athletic director.

The MSHSL Board Of Directors Meeting is 9:30 a.m. Thursday.