Cossacks win home invitational

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VOLGA – The host Cossacks earned a score of 159 to win the Sioux Valley Competitive Cheer Invitational on Thursday evening.

“The girls had a very solid performance,” said Casie King, coach of the 10-time defending Class A state champions. “I think we sometimes have a little bit of a curse at our home meet – they get really nervous – but they did really well tonight.

“We’re sitting pretty well right now. We’ve been scoring pretty high; we’re kind of staying in the same range. It’s always hard in Class A competition – they have two judges as opposed to three, so it’s out of 200 instead of 300 – but fairly good scores tonight. We’ve been scoring fairly well, so we just want to keep it right there.”

Added the team’s lone senior, Francine Verpaalen, “our routine is pretty awesome and my teammates are very talented, and my coaches above all are amazing coaches; they’re probably some of the best in the state.”

Dell Rapids was second with a 140.5, followed by Redfield/ Doland (118) in third and Faulkton Area (112) in fourth.

Arlington/Lake Preston had a score of 103.5 to finish fifth.

Deubrook Area, which brought back its program this season, was sixth at 96.2. It marked the Dolphins’ first competition in 15 years.

Sioux Valley was coming off a big win on Saturday in which it took home the first-place honors at the Brookings Invitational.

“My girls are confident, but they’re also always taking it in stride and knowing that it’s a lot of pressure to keep going,” King noted. “So as much as they’re excited with their placement, they want to make sure they stay there. They’re pretty much always working hard.”

Clark/Willow Lake, the lone dance team in the event, had a score of 85.5 in hip hop.

The Sioux Falls O’Gorman Invitational is Tuesday at 5 p.m.