Covering the state dance tournament at Target Center every year is a blast for me. I love it. It just has a different vibe to it than other state tournaments. It’s hard to even find the right words to use. I have covered state football, basketball and baseball, even cross country and golf and nothing compares to state dance. The number of people that attend, the different routines, colorful uniforms, the music and it seems like everyone is cheering everyone on. I love how our Section 3A fans cheer each other on at state. The dance moms and dance dads go all out to support their daughters. There are no losers at state dance. It’s just plain fun!

Congratulations to the LQPV-DB Shadows they are state champions in both jazz and high kick. They are talented and very athletic. It’s absolutely amazing to me some of the things they can do on the gym floor. I know how hard they work and the time they put in.

This was a different kind of year for me as I had a few mishaps that I’m not sure I really want to share. But, I like to embarrass myself. I don’t have the time to mention all of them, but I will share a few.

I record with my phone the Shadows and YME and Montevideos’ jazz routines. Then I post them on my social media sites right away. So, after all three routines were done I posted them. About 10 minutes after posting I noticed a teenage boy entering our press box area. He was wearing a Montevideo t-shirt and he asked me if I was Paul Raymo. I said I am. He told me that his mother sent him up here to tell me that I posted the wrong routine on social media. I labeled the Montevideo Gold Dusters and posted the Shadows routine. It wasn’t the Gold Dusters routine. I thanked him and immediately deleted the post and reposted it correctly. I was embarrassed and my broadcast partner Dee Dee Schommer tried to tell me it was okay.

Another old person flub was that I usually give Neon Needles Player of the Game t-shirts to the seniors on the Shadows team every year at state. I usually hand them out while celebrating in the hallway at Target Center with the Shadows and fans. Dee Dee and I were packing up my radio equipment to go meet them when I realized I left them in my car. I felt really bad, it was too far for me to go get them. I will find another way to get the seniors their POG shirts.

My biggest embarrassment this weekend happened on Saturday afternoon. Luckily, it was later in the afternoon. Without going into details to save me more embarrassment, my belt broke! The belt that holds my pants up! Broke, not fixable! I need a belt! I tried to make a belt out of the electrical cord that I charge my cell phone with and that didn’t work. So, I shared this with Dee Dee and we had a good laugh. The rest of the day didn’t go well. When we are celebrating with the Shadows, my job is to record them on my phone and send the interviews back to the station. While interviewing the girls I had to hold my pants up with my left hand and record with my right. Dee Dee was kind enough to go get the girls and bring them to me so I didn’t have to walk all over the place. All I wanted to do was get to my car in the parking lot and drive home. So embarrasing! I will be bringing an extra belt with me from now on!

A number of other mishaps happened to me this weekend, but I am at my word count limit! Ask me sometime. Thanks to Dee Dee Schommer for broadcasting with me again. She is amazing and has so much to say about dance. It’s great. All the people that came and visited with us and all the kind words from people. It was for sure a memorable state dance tournament.