My parents signed me up for dance classes when I was just three years old.
And I immediately fell in love with it.
I tried other sports—gymnastics, softball—but dancing always stood out.
From the beginning, I loved the structure and discipline it gave me, as well as the freedom to express my emotions and creativity through movement.
I also loved the satisfaction of setting goals, working toward them, and accomplishing them.
Dance has always been my passion, and from an early age, I knew I wanted to keep dancing for as long as possible.
The Journey
The summer after my freshman year of high school, I attended the Tribe 99 College Dance Team Recruitment Combine.
At these combines, you learn choreography, sharpen your technique, and perform in front of a huge crowd of college dance team coaches.
It’s an amazing opportunity to meet coaches face-to-face, ask questions, and get your foot in the door as a recruit.
I went into it completely blind—no one from my hometown of St. Louis had ever attended one.
I spent weeks researching and preparing on my own so I could put my best foot forward.
In the end, I walked away with one of only four full scholarships to the following year’s combine, lifelong friendships—some of whom later became my teammates—and connections with some of the most influential people in the college dance world.
That event opened my eyes to what was possible and helped me realize that I wanted to pursue a college dance team career instead of going into the industry or Broadway.
Dancing alongside some of the country's most talented dancers was humbling and inspiring.
I knew I had a long road ahead, but from that moment on, I was all in.
Getting to WSU
After that first combine, I spent the next three years attending every college dance team clinic and combine I could fit into my schedule.
When senior year came around, I kept getting so close—making it through multiple rounds of the recruitment process and getting to final callbacks—but falling just short of an offer each time.
It was incredibly frustrating.
I could feel my dream slipping through my fingers.
It felt like all the hard work, the sleepless nights, the blood, sweat, and tears, and every sacrifice I’d made were about to be for nothing.
But then, the connections I made at that very first combine helped me find my coach at WSU.
And on March 14, 2022, I officially signed to become a Crimson Girl.
It’s the biggest goal I’ve ever achieved—and the most rewarding.
I finally found a team and a coach who saw my potential and believed in my ability to represent their program.
First Year
Looking back on my first season as a Crimson Girl, I feel nothing but gratitude and pride.
Living 2,000 miles away from home has been challenging, but the distance is absolutely worth it to live out my dream here in Washington.
This year, I’ve performed at football, basketball, and volleyball games, participated in campus events, maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA, and made the Dean’s List in the Honors College.
I’m majoring in psychology, building my personal brand, exploring NIL opportunities, and traveling with the Crimson Girls to UDA Nationals, where we placed seventh in the D1A hip-hop division.
Beyond those big moments, there have also been countless minor victories.
I’ve learned how to live on my own, grown from a newbie to a leader and role model on my team, and balanced all of that with a part-time job and the responsibilities of being a student-athlete.
I feel like I’ve genuinely flourished here at WSU, and I’m so proud to call myself a Coug.
I can’t wait to see what the next three years have in store.
Beyond College
As for life after college, I’m still a freshman—so there’s plenty of time to figure it out—but I know I want to keep dancing in some way, maybe even on a professional team.
I also want to continue teaching and mentoring young dancers who dream of dancing in college.
I’m studying psychology here at WSU and plan to pursue a master’s degree after graduation.
Eventually, I hope to build a career in sports and performance psychology, working with athletes—especially dancers—to help them navigate mental health challenges that might be holding them back from reaching their full potential.
Mental health in athletics is something I’m deeply passionate about, and it’s a way I can stay connected to the dance world long after my own performing career is over.
Be Your Biggest Cheerleader
If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that you have to be your own biggest cheerleader and advocate—not just in your sport, but in life.
So many opportunities I’ve had came from putting myself out there, believing in myself, and taking initiative—instead of waiting for things to happen.
That’s the biggest lesson I’ve taken away from this whole experience, from my years of recruitment to my first year of college.
And I’m beyond grateful to be a WSU Cougar.
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📷 Kennedy Webb and Washington State Athletics
