BEMIDJI — The Bemidji High School jazz team, known as the Blue Angels, made a triumphant return to their home stage, clinching first place in jazz at their first home competition since 2024. Performing to Zach Bryan’s emotional tune “Something in the Orange,” the team showcased their talent and determination, earning a victory against four rival schools.
This highly anticipated event marked the Blue Angels’ first home competition in two years, as last season’s meet was cancelled due to a judge shortage. Krista Grover, the head coach, expressed her excitement, stating, “It was fun; it’s always fun to compete at home. They’re always more comfortable on their home floor.” The atmosphere in the BHS Gymnasium energized the team, allowing them to perform with confidence in front of familiar faces.
In addition to their jazz win, the Blue Angels narrowly missed another first-place finish, taking second in high kick, just 0.5 points behind Bagley. The competition results saw Hawley, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, Bagley, and Moorhead follow Bemidji in the jazz standings, while Hawley, DGF, and Moorhead trailed in high kick.
Grover praised her dancers for their adaptability, particularly as one team member fell ill shortly before the performance. “They danced really hard. They’ve been dancing together for a while,” she noted. The choice of “Something in the Orange” presented a unique challenge due to its musical complexity. “It was a hard song choice,” Grover said. “It’s in 6s instead of 8s, which is harder to count. The musicality piece of it is harder, and judges will recognize that and it’ll boost the difficulty scores.”
The team also introduced a lively mashup of songs by Macklemore for their high kick routine. According to Grover, the dancers wanted to create a fun atmosphere this year, moving away from themed performances that characterized previous seasons. “They did awesome. They had a lot of energy and they had a lot of fun,” she remarked.
The leadership team, consisting of seniors Josi Volcke and Audrina Leach, juniors Elise Spaeth and McKenzie Benson, and sophomore Brynn Konensfeld, played a significant role in selecting the music and choreographing the routines. Their input will be crucial as the Blue Angels prepare for the upcoming Section 4-3A meet on January 30, 2024, at St. Michael-Albertville High School. This year’s section features new competitors, with Sartell, Sauk Rapids-Rice, and St. Cloud moving out, while Alexandria and Coon Rapids have joined.
The top three teams in both jazz and high kick will advance to the state competition scheduled for February 14 at the Target Center. Grover remains optimistic but emphasizes the work ahead. “We’re feeling good, but we still have a lot of work to do,” she said. The team plans to focus on rehearsals, refining their routines in the final days leading up to the meet.
As the Blue Angels celebrate their home victory, they look forward to the challenges ahead, embodying the spirit of determination and teamwork that defines their journey.
