From: Todd Sesker
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2015 8:29 AM
To: 'Chace Anderson'
Subject: RE: state dance competition
Thanks Chace
From: Chace Anderson [mailto:
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2015 8:28 AM
To: Todd Sesker
Subject: Re: state dance competition
Hi Todd,
I am writing to acknowledge your e-mail. I have spoken with our Activities Director, Jaime Sherwood, and it is my understanding that Jaime talked with Ken Hubert on Sunday. Jaime and I will work in cooperation with others to learn moredetails aboutwhat happenedwith the awards ceremony.
Thanks, Todd.
Chace
763-745-5011
From: Todd
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2015 11:06 AM
To: Chace Anderson; ; ; ;
Subject: state dance competition
Dear Colleagues,
By now you may or may not have heard about the Class AAA state high kick competition that was held on Saturday, February 14th, 2015.
My Activities Director and I were at the competition.
At the beginning of the week, rumors were going around that Faribault plagiarized their high kick dance routine.
Appropriately, the Minnesota State High School league and the Faribault Public Schools Activities Director conducted an investigation regarding all allegations.
Both the Minnesota State High School League and Ken Hubert, our Activities Director both found the allegations false and in fact the Faribault High Kick Dance team did not violate any MSHSL rules (attached).
After the teams completed their routines and all teams were lined up at the Target Center, the All-State Team was announced. During this time, 5 teams (Wayzata, Eastview, Chaska, Lakeville South, and Eden Prarie) all coaches and athletes, pulled their teams to one side of the gym, leaving the Faribault girls all alone on one side of the court.
Confused and thinking that this was something that all the teams were doing, the Faribault dance team moved over with them. I thought maybe this was a gesture of good sportsmanship indicating that all 6 teams were really close. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I noticed that the five girls standing in the front of the teams were holding hands. When Faribault moved over, they refused to hold the hand of the Faribault dancer. Then I knew something was up.
The announcer asked the teams to move back to their respective lines, which Faribault did. The other teams did not move and were justly disqualified.
I just have to let you know my feelings on this and how we all felt as parents and fans of our student athletes.
I have never seen a display like this from athletes and coaches this extreme. Our student athletes, parents, and fans were completely oblivious to this “set-up” by these 5 teams. I am sad and angry at the same time. I have been in education for 30 years as a teacher, coach, administrator and a dad. I have three daughters that were student-athletes and couldn’t imagine putting them through this or allowing this to happen.
I am sure you will be hearing from your Activities Director about this. I talked to my board chair and he assured me that if these were coaches in Faribault, they probably wouldn’t have a job next year.
Sorry to ramble…I know and respect each of you. I just needed to let you know how we are feeling in Faribault about this entire event, very disheartening.
Sincerely,
Todd S
Todd Sesker
Superintendent Faribault Public Schools