Faribault Emeralds Back at State, Krinkie Belongs in Hall of Fame

Thursday the Faribault Emeralds Dance Team had a send-off to the State Tournament with lots of celebrations at the elementary schools in the community.

It's one of the traditions that has solidified the hard work of one of the most successful programs in Minnesota. This is their 31st trip to

I was shocked to see former long time Faribault Dance Team Head Coach Lois Krinkie is not in the Minnesota Association of Dance Teams Hall of Fame.

Krinkie started coaching in Faribault just before the competition was recognized as a sport.

It took a number of years for Dance to be recognized by the Minnesota State High School League. March 20, 1996 the MSHSL Representative Assembly voted to include girls dance team as a League sponsored activity.

In the mid 1970's the first State Danceline competitions were held at Anoka High School.

By 1980 the State Tournament was held at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Mn.

In August of that year the Minnesota Association of Dance Teams was organized.

I confess I was one of the doubters early before former Faribault High School Athletic Director Lowell Nomeland set me straight.

I arrived in Faribault in 1987.  I believe it was a year or two later when he challenged me to participate in one of the Emeralds practices.  I was in my early 30's,

Practice was held in the high school cafeteria.  Thanks to Lois I was allowed to join in.  My glutes and hamstrings were burning with all the leg kicks.

What a cardio workout it was.

Faribault won at State in 1997.  Krinkie was the Head Coach from 1991 until 2018-19.  She says 28 of her teams participated in the State Tournament.

One of the pioneers in the sport and not in the Minnesota Association of Dance Teams Hall of Fame.

The state competitions should be impressive enough but what is amazing is the fact that literally over a dozen former members of her dance teams have gone on to become coaches.

Lois told me there might be others also but off the top of her head in a phone conversation she rattled off these former Emeralds who have been or currently are coaches.

• Tara Martin, South St. Paul
• Jamie Swenning, Cannon Falls
• Danette Reistad, JoJo Villa, Northfield
• Lindsay Davis, Northfield
• Stephanie Thomas, Faribault
• Tasha Bokman, Northfield, Faribault
• Emma Poquette, Owatonna
• Vanessa Kotek, Northfield
• Tessa Longshore, Northfield
• Nikki Colgrove, Faribault
• Jackie Rindahl, Duluth, Cretin-Derham Hall
• Samantha Pierce, Faribault
• Sara Howell, Faribault
• Megan Marlor, Faribault
• Frankie McIntire Stocker, Faribault

An amazing legacy.  Lois is proud of all these young women and is happy they had an experience with dance they can share with future generations of young women.

Boys are now eligible to compete also.

Here is the listing of Hall of Fame members for the Minnesota Association of Dance Teams.

I think it's a travesty Lois Krinkie is not in this Hall of Fame.  Read the criteria they list to be inducted and tell me she doesn't fit them.

Longevity is not a criteria they hinted with this comment.

• "While many have served their state and local programs over a long and distinguished career, their accomplishments must have been worthy of state recognition for them to be considered.  Longevity, without meaningful state impact, does not constitute appropriate credentials for Hall of Fame consideration."

Over 16 current or former coaches coming from the Krinkie led program doesn't provide an accomplishment "worthy of state recognition."  I'd say it's one of the only ways to determine "meaningful impact."

You can't dance without music right?