Brainerd Warriors Capture First-Ever State Jazz Title

Crosby-Ironton finishes fifth in Class 1A jazz competition

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Brainerd Warriors dance team made history on Friday, February 13, 2026, by winning the Class 3A State Jazz Competition at Target Center in Minneapolis. This marks the first time the Brainerd program has won the state jazz title. Crosby-Ironton also competed in the Class 1A jazz finals, finishing in fifth place.

Why it matters

The Brainerd Warriors' jazz title is a significant accomplishment for the program, which had never medaled in jazz competition before. This victory showcases the team's hard work, skill development, and dedication over the years. For Crosby-Ironton, their fifth-place finish in Class 1A is the best result in recent history, demonstrating the strength of dance programs in the region.

The details

Brainerd scored 758 total points and 5 rank points to capture the Class 3A State Jazz title, topping runner-up Eastview by 14 points. Brainerd received perfect scores of 80 out of 80 in both choreography subcategories and also scored the best in difficulty and execution. Crosby-Ironton finished fifth in Class 1A with 528 total points and 24 rank points, their best result in recent memory.

  • The Brainerd Warriors dance team won the Class 3A State Jazz Competition on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • The Crosby-Ironton dance team competed in the Class 1A State Jazz finals on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Brainerd Warriors

The Brainerd High School dance team, which captured the Class 3A State Jazz title for the first time in program history.

Crosby-Ironton

The Crosby-Ironton High School dance team, which finished fifth in the Class 1A State Jazz Competition, their best result in recent years.

Cindy Clough

The head coach of the Brainerd Warriors dance team.

Rachel Norwood

The head coach of the Crosby-Ironton dance team.

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What they’re saying

“It's almost like you have to pinch yourself that we actually achieved it because we haven't ever medaled in jazz, so to go on to winning was just crazy. We kind of had that feeling this year because we had been doing so wonderfully. I'm so proud of how our kids worked and pulled together. It was a real fun team. It's been a lot of years in the making getting up here. Each year we got a little farther and a little farther, so it's pretty exciting.”

— Cindy Clough, Brainerd head coach (Brainerd Dispatch)

“I was very proud of our performances. I thought they had their peak performances in both prelims and finals. They were grounded and solid. The nerves didn't get to them, which was nice to see. I was proud of the energy and execution and projection. I felt they definitely left it all on the floor today.”

— Rachel Norwood, Crosby-Ironton head coach (Brainerd Dispatch)

What’s next

The Brainerd Warriors and Crosby-Ironton dance teams will compete in the State Kick Competition on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. at Target Center in Minneapolis.

The takeaway

The Brainerd Warriors' historic jazz title victory and Crosby-Ironton's strong fifth-place finish in Class 1A demonstrate the excellence and dedication of dance programs in the region. This success highlights the hard work, skill development, and team unity that have propelled these teams to new heights in Minnesota high school dance competition.