Photo by Jennifer Brandes The 2025-26 New Ulm Cathedral Sonics Varsity Kick Team. Front row (l-r): Emma Hoffmann, Liza Reinarts, Evie Mages and Haley Strain. Row 2 (l-r): Lucy Wyczawski, Micahl Nachreiner, Jayda Weinkauf, Claire Beranek, Maren Kemkes, Evelyn Lieder and Molly Grossmann. Row 3 (l-r): Chloe Beranek, Addison Henningson, Madisen Enevoldsen, Addison Huls, Ellie Hoffmann and Bella Hoffmann. Not Pictured: Team Manager Teresa Fischer.

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Cathedral Sonics are ready for another season of dance this winter and they’ll have a little extra kick this time around.

As Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop joins the team in a new co-op, the Sonics will be fully loaded with talent and depth, giving second-year head coach Karlie Gieseke every reason to be excited for the year ahead.

“Bringing the two programs together has added depth, new talent and fresh perspectives to the team,” Gieseke said. “The athletes have blended incredibly well, creating a stronger, more unified group. This partnership has elevated our numbers, our level of competition, and the overall energy. This partnership has also given us the opportunity to offer a JV jazz team this year, which provides more dancers with valuable performance experience and helps strengthen our program as a whole.”

Gieseke will be joined by assistant coaches Kelcey Andrews and Elizabeth Sazma.

Gieseke said the Sonics will look to continue building on multiple areas from last season, with three key areas of focus.

“This season, our main goals are to continue building consistency, confidence and teamwork,” Gieseke said. “We want to refine our technique, elevate our performance quality and push ourselves to compete at a higher level. As a team, we’re focused on holding each other to strong standards, supporting one another and ultimately being competitive in our section with the goal of making it to the state tournament.”

Evie Mages and Liza Reinarts are the Sonics’ two seniors this season and Gieseke said she will lean on them and her five juniors Haley Strain, Maria Soto-Garcia, Emma Hoffmann, Addison Henningson, Madisen Enevoldsen and Chloe Beranek for continued leadership.

“We’re fortunate to have strong leadership throughout the team,” Gieseke said. “Our seniors lead by example with their work ethic and positivity, and we also have a dedicated group of three junior captains who help guide our younger dancers and set the tone at practice. Together, our upperclassmen create a supportive and disciplined environment that keeps the team moving in the right direction.”

This season Gieseke said the team will use a fun variety of music to keep the high kick routine energized.

“Our kick routine is set to high-energy Lady Gaga, which really brings out the team’s precision and performance strength,” Gieseke said. “For both our varsity and JV jazz routines, we’re incorporating a mix of powerful pop and emotional contemporary that allow the dancers to show both athleticism and artistry.”

The Sonics kick off their competitive schedule this Saturday in St. James, with the first home competition scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Cathedral High School. The team then competes at Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart on Dec. 20, New Ulm High School on Jan. 13, 2026, Yellow Medicine East on Jan. 17 and MACCRAY/Renville County West on Jan. 19. The Section 3A Tournament will take place Feb. 7 in Montevideo.