Iowa State University Athletics
Iowa State Dance Team Earns Gold Medal
04.28.2022 | Athletics
AMES, Iowa - With many successes to celebrate over the last year, Iowa State adds yet another accomplishment to its already impressive list.
Last week, the Iowa State Dance team traveled to Florida to compete in the International World Dance Championship for the first time in program history.
Head coach Jill Petersen and the team were invited to not only compete in the International World Dance Championship, but to represent the United States in the freestyle Pom division. So, wearing red, white and blue, the team competed against 13 other countries from all across the globe.
After a long week of competition, the Cyclones were crowned world champions, taking home the gold medal in the division.
This accolade comes right after Petersen and her team arrived back in Ames after winning their third Pom National Championship in Daytona.
"What was the blessing for us is we just came back from our national competitions so we had extra practices after that and before that where the Team USA Coaches would come and work with our team," Petersen said. "They were really giving us good cleanup and changing some things that prepared us even more for the international competitions."
After getting last year taken away from them due to COVID-19, many of the athletes were ready to leave their mark on the program and end their time at Iowa State with a bang.
It took hard work and extra practices, but that all proved to be worth it in the end as the team was awarded with the gold medal and named world champions.
"All in. They have been all in since the beginning, throughout the year, and then up until the very end through the last performance," Petersen said. "This team has been with the mentality that they are all in. All of the dancers that went and competed were definitely with the Cyclone true and true all in theory."
 Dance Team Members included Gabrielle Aguirre, Emily Allen, Bella Arpy, Megan Broomfield, Sophia Chiodo, Bella Clabaugh, Olivia Dittmar, Kennedi Dyro, Lindsey Haugen, Emma Hodges, Allison Hutchinson, Miranda Kuehl, Leah Logan, Rachel Maucieri, Michelle Morford, Emilee Petersen, Cale Schmitz, Kyla Sheridan, Sydney Sherwood, Jenni Terry, Anna Wieland, Sydney Wallick, Ellie Willse, Jenn Yordy, Olivia Ziesmer.
