By Miah Fox

Saturday, January 10, the Hastings College cheer and dance team held their Rock & Roll Jr. Spirit Camp, where they performed with kids during the halftime show of the Hastings –  Morningside basketball game. Now, these are heading out to perform for the sake of Hastings’ spirit. As these athletes look back on their camp, they look forward to their competition seasons.

“A lot of students expressed a desire for a combined clinic.” Said Jenna Sterling, a dancer who spoke about the kids’ camp. “It’s always awesome to have a passion, but to be able to convey that passion is pretty cool.

Ages Kindergarten through 5th Grade, the kids learned both cheers and a dance routine to perform alongside their college counterparts. The dance routine was said to be choreographed by Katie Fryar and Jaslyn Crites, two students on the dance team who knocked their task out of the park. As for the cheers, one could watch during the first half of the girls’ game and see a full bleacher of young children shouting out with excitement for the Hastings’ basketball team.

“It was really good,” Sara McCarraher, a Hastings cheerleader, said, “They showed on their faces that they were excited to be here.”

This also marked the first camp that Madison Jagels, the new Cheer and Dance Coach, put on for Hastings College, and as she leads both teams into the competition season, excitement and anticipation are buzzing in the air.

Jagels graduated from Hastings College in 2022 and returned this August with a passion. “I love coaching them,” Jagels said, “I love being here.” 

Jageles talked about her role model, Mikaelah Molifua, who was her coach during her freshman year at Hastings. Molifua died in 2020, but Jagels is determined to make sure her legacy is never forgotten.

“I want to continue what she was building,” Jagels said. “The reason I coach is to be a mentor for them, to focus on how their college life is as a whole instead of just cheer and dance. Mikaelah was the same.”

Alongside her assistant dance coach, Emily Struss, another Hastings alum, they plan to enter the competition season as victors, with perfected routines, a strong structure, and passion.

“I really like Coach Madi,” McCarraher said, “She has a lot of new ideas and stunts. I’m excited to show what we’ve been working on throughout the year.”