—Photo by Iowa Central Athletics THE 2025 IOWA CENTRAL DANCE TEAM includes, front row (left to right): Coach Cassidy Vermeer, Allee Schantz, Maddie Utter, Kayla Keokham, Ann Cornell, Lanee Bickel, Rellana Van Deuren, Desaray Meyers-Cochran, Jazmin Williams and coach Stephanie Sibenaller. Middle: Ryleigh Clemens, Grace Troyer, Leah Kalsem, Lili Dingman, Mylee Merritt, Renae Cowgill, Hannah Davies and Lorna Tucker. Back: Peyton Alekzsiejeck, Gabby Kruger, Arri Jones, Seneca Freeze, Lauren Anderson, Miguel Calles, Malia Lansink, Ava Hultquist and Ava Dietrich.

DES MOINES — Many programs prepare for a competition with a tangible end goal in mind.

The Iowa Central dance program believes taking care of both the little things and the big picture will ultimately determine true success, and the tradition of excellence the Tritons have established at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association Championships is a byproduct of keeping their priorities straight.

Head coach Cassidy Vermeer’s squad again stole the show in the community college division, securing first place in the Pom division for the 12th consecutive year. Iowa Central also earned top honors in Jazz for a third straight season, while capturing silver in Hip-Hop at the 50th annual event inside Wells Fargo Arena.

“I was very proud of how all of our dancers executed in each of our performances,” said Vermeer, who is in her 13th season at the helm. “They definitely hit their peak during the competition, and as a coach, that’s all we can hope for: that they dance their hardest and their best when it matters most.

“Our dance team is so much more than just the trophies that line the walls in our dance studio, though. Maintaining a positive culture and creating memorable experiences for our dancers is our absolute No. 1 priority. We always keep that mindset at the forefront, no matter what obstacles we face. We won’t settle for anything less, and do whatever it takes to make sure the dancers that we recruit align with the same vision that we have for our team.”

The Tritons starred when it mattered most, but the finished product didn’t come by accident. Months of preparation, hard work and adjustments went into getting the team and their routines to the finish line.

“The world of dance is always evolving, so it’s important that we keep up with those trends and continue to push the envelope in ways that will make us stand out,” said Vermeer, a graduate of both Fort Dodge Senior High and Iowa Central. “When it comes to competition and dance, it’s so subjective. The results are in the hands of a few judges’ opinions.

“We have to make sure we prepare our dancers in a way that will leave no question in a judge’s eye about who the true winner should be. Sometimes that doesn’t always mean we come out on top, but that does mean that we have given them every tool that we possibly can to ensure their success as a team.”

The Tritons have been anchored this season by the leadership of veteran squad members Ann Cornell, Kayla Keokham and Jazmin Williams.

“We have a great group of returners this year that we relied on a lot as coaches,” Vermeer said. “I can definitely say Ann, Kayla and Jazmin were the heart of this team. We leaned on them anytime we needed them.

“All three of these dancers had great dedication, passion and wisdom.”

Assistant Stephanie Sibenaller, a South Central Calhoun graduate, added this group “truly loves the process.”

“They are such a joyful bunch to coach,” Sibenaller said. “Even during our tough workouts and long days, everyone seems to have a smile on their face.

“Having a good attitude about a process that requires a lot of attention to detail makes all the difference.”

Vermeer agreed.

“Every single dancer truly wanted to be there,” Vermeer noted. “When the practices leading up to state became longer and tougher, they all were able to pull from their passion of dance to keep going with positive and encouraging attitudes.

“When push came to shove and times got hard, all of their love and passion for dance and for each other really made the hard work and journey extremely enjoyable.”

The weather didn’t always cooperate – especially right before the state championships.

“One of the biggest hurdles we had to overcome during our preparation was losing a large amount of practice time right before the competition due to the winter snow storms,” Vermeer said. “That was very nerve-wracking for us coaches, but we had to trust our dancers and trust in (the work done) up until that point.

“Our routines didn’t come together in just one weekend, so we needed to believe that they wouldn’t fall apart within one weekend, either. Our team is full of talent and experience, so it was important to believe our dancers would do some practicing on their own. (Once the weather cleared), they came back ready to put in the extra time and work to ensure our success as a team.”

Sibenaller also saw “very selfless teammates” supporting each other in the months leading up to the event.

“These dancers genuinely want to see their teammates succeed, and have diligently shown a willingness to sacrifice for the betterment of (the entire group),” Sibenaller said. “They’re hungry for a challenge and have proven they are gritty. I’m excited to see where that’s going to take us as we get into our national season (this spring).”

Every year, Vermeer reminds her team to not take anything for granted. Past results never guarantee future success in the dance world, regardless of how much Iowa Central has achieved over the last decade-plus and the reputation it has built.

“You have to remain humble and hungry,” Vermeer said. “They must have the fire inside of them to want to win, but also, the humility to remember that nothing is a given.

“Our motto this year for the state season was, ‘All Heart, All Hustle.’ You have to have the heart and passion for what we do to continue to push and work hard when you might feel like giving up.”

Sibenaller knows this is just the beginning of the journey for the 2025-26 squad, which won’t rest on its laurels moving forward.

“Nationals in April are always a huge highlight of the second semester,” Sibenaller said. “The day in and day out journey of practices, weights, film and study tables are really where the memories are made.

“I’m looking forward to watching our dancers continue to improve, grow and thrive in the classroom and the dance arena.”

Freshmen Lorna Tucker (Manson), Miguel Zapata (Calles) (Clarion), Hayden Bierstedt (Whittemore) and Ava Dietrich (Emmetsburg) are Triton team members from the area. Sophomores include Delanee Bickel, Renae Cowgill, Desaray Meyers-Cochran, Allee Schantz, Madeline Utter, Rellana Van Deuren, Williams, Keokham and Cornell.

All but two Iowa Central dancers on the roster are from Iowa.