Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclones Serve in La Angostura, Mexico
08.20.2024 | Athletics
AMES, Iowa – For the second straight summer, members of the Iowa State Athletic Department embarked on a foreign Cyclones Serve trip. The Cyclone Serve initiative is part of a cherished tradition that Iowa State Athletics upholds each year, highlighting its dedication to making a difference beyond the confines of competitive sports.
The annual Cyclone Serve trip demonstrates Iowa State Athletics deep commitment to community engagement and global outreach, exemplifying how sports can be a powerful vehicle for positive change. This year, a team of 10 student-athletes and six staff members traveled to La Angostura, Mexico, to partner with the non-profit organization Courts for Kids in building a multi-purpose court alongside the community.
Starting on the morning of Sunday, Aug. 3, and finishing on Tuesday, Aug. 6, the 16-person squad would begin working every morning at 7 a.m. A short break at 10 a.m. was the only spell of the day before the team finished up at 3 p.m. (or when that day's work was done). The group worked directly with La Angostura residents in making the courts and would engage in local activities at night as the day wound down.
Cyclone athletes who made the trip were Alaina Breitbach (swimming & diving), Cole Carlucci (wrestling), Kinsey Christianson (track & field), Abigail Crum (swimming & diving), Madison Dohrn (swimming & diving), Kaia Holtkamp (track & field), Cameron Moon (track & field), Ella O'Neall (track & field), Carter Schmidt (wrestling) and Katie Strotman (track & field).
Joining the athletes were Shamaree Brown (Senior Associate AD for Student Services), Sammie Hildreth (Student-Athlete Engagement Specialist), Quinn Josiah (Associate for Student-Athlete Development), Megan Myers (Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures), Jeff Spaur (Photographer) and Jess Stagg (Learning Specialist).
Multiple athletes spoke to the experience and life-changing memories that were made while in Mexico.
Ella O'Neall – track & field
"The Cyclone Serve trip was truly a life changing experience. I learned so much about a new way of life, adaptability and what it means to take yourself out of your comfort zone. Being able to serve the community with fellow student athletes in such a special way really helped me to build strong connections and meet amazing people. It was truly moving being able to experience the strength of our community as the people of La Angostura and Iowa State Athletics came together to complete this beautiful project. I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve others, and I would love to be a part of more Courts for Kids projects in the future.
Cole Carlucci – wrestling
The Cyclone Serve trip was amazing and was an experience I'll never forget. Even though technically we are the ones giving when it comes to creating the court, I would argue that we received even more from the community of La Angostura. I gained relationships, experiences and a perspective that I will be able to carry forever. The love and level community that the people of La Angostura have for each other is infectious and impossible to miss. It helped me realize what was truly important in life. This trip, being something that I wasn't used to, helped me realize that and gain that perspective. I couldn't recommend this trip enough. The relationships you can make will last long and have a great impact on you as a person.Â
Kinsey Christianson – track & field
From the first night, the community of La Angostura treated us like family. They invited us into their homes, cooked us meals, and shared their traditions. My favorite part was how much we all laughed; everyone had amazing stories, and even with the language barrier, laughs were contagious. I felt so welcome in this community and will forever remember my time in La Angostura.
The neighborhood of La Angostura is a small locality in the municipality of Heroica Ciudad de Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, Mexico. La Angostura is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive west from the city of Oaxaca.
The State of Oaxaca contains primarily indigenous communities who have strong social cohesion and a beautifully rich culture of food, arts and crafts. Although these families have lived in this town for many years, the town was officially recognized by the government as 'La Angostura Rural Nucleus,' recently, on April 11, 2021.
Daily reflections from athletes were shared with the group at the end of each night. For more information and insights, you can visit the ISU athletes Instagram page (@isuathletes), where they posted daily photos and captions.
