Our Crowdfunding Groups
Why We Are Fundraising
The Iowa State Spirit Squad is asking for your support in fundraising for our national competition in Daytona Beach, Florida, in April 2025. We work extremely hard year-round to prepare for nationals as it is the time when we get to compete in the sport we love. To continue representing Iowa State in Cheerleading and Dance, the Spirit Squad has to fundraise for many different costs that go into competing at nationals. These costs include hotels, flights, uniforms, costumes, meals, team shirts, choreography, and music for our routines. The Spirit Squad had a successful nationals in April 2024 because of your donations! Based on the success of the fundraising efforts through this crowdfunding campaign last year, we are back again. We hope we can reach our fundraising goal again this year to have another great experience at nationals!
Iowa State Cheer and Dance in Jack Trice Stadium
About the Cheer Team
The Iowa State University Cheer Team consists of 44 athletes from across the country. These include a combination of athletes on the Co-Ed and All-Girl team. They are led by Spirit Squad Coordinator and Head Coach Kendra Simpson, along with 2 assistant coaches, Liza Lovan and Shlisa Frank. The Iowa State Cheer team cheers for many sports, including Football, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, Gymnastics, and Wrestling. In addition to this, they prepare all season for their national competition in Daytona Beach, Florida, where they compete against other Division 1A schools in the Advanced Small Co-Ed Division. The Co-Ed and All-Girl teams strive to foster a Championship Culture to create a name for themselves and represent the University proudly at the national level. The cheer team works hard in and out of practice by attending extra lifting workouts, appearances, volunteering, and maintaining a team GPA above 3.40. They will be attending NCA Nationals on a gold-paid bid earned earlier in the season. The Iowa State Cheer team is working to continue their success throughout the year and for many more years to come. We deeply appreciate the support from donors within Cyclone Nation to make all these successes possible!
Iowa State Cheerleading Team
Team photos taken by Corey Edits Photography
About the Dance Team
The Iowa State University Dance Team consists of 42 members from across the Midwest. Team members train in more than 10-15 hours of weekly practices in preparation for game day and national performances. ISUDT is led by Head Coach Jill Petersen and assistant coaches Kelsie Mackie, Danielle Myers, and Kate Netten. The Iowa State Dance Team helps lead spectator enthusiasm during Iowa State Athletic events, including football and men’s and women’s basketball. In addition, ISUDT participates in team philanthropic events outside of practice. This includes Letters of Love at Iowa State, Raising Readers in Story County, and Adopting a Family during Christmas time. Outside of leading crowd engagement in Ames and helping the community, the Iowa State Dance Team uses much of the season to prepare for NDA College Nationals in Daytona, Florida. While at nationals, ISUDT competes in the following D1A categories: Jazz, Team, Pom, and Spirit Rally! Over the past few years, ISUDT has brought home multiple National titles and rankings, as well as a World title back to Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Dance Team hopes to continue to make the university proud, as well as to progress the program as years move forward. The success of this team would not be possible without the amazing support of Cyclone Nation and donors; we thank you for all your help!
Iowa State Dance Team
Team photos taken by Corey Edits Photography
About Our Mascot Cy
Cy is the official mascot of Iowa State University, and his duties are fulfilled by the members of the Mascot Squad. Cy makes appearances at various Cyclone sporting events such as football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling, soccer, softball, and gymnastics. In addition to sporting events, Cy is often requested to make various appearances across the state of Iowa for a number of events. An interesting fact that you may not know is that Cy competes each year at the NCA College Mascot Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. Cy is part of the national routine performances, which helps improve the overall effect of the routines and improve scores. Cy also has a routine of his own where he performs a skit competing against other mascots in order to win over the crowd. The mascot squad works very hard to build the props and sets used in Cy's routine.
Cy at Pregame in Jack Trice StadiumThank You
The Iowa State Spirit Squad is extremely grateful for the endless support of Cyclone Nation. They would not be able to compete and represent the University at the national level without your support and generosity. Thank you for helping us get our moment to shine!
Running Flags Photo Courtesy of j.Rice Photography
Donating $10 to the Iowa State Spirit Squad can provide us shirts to represent Cyclone Nation at Nationals in Daytona.
Donating $20 to the Iowa State Spirit Squad can fund competition meals to keep us healthy and energized to compete.
Donating $50 to the Iowa State Spirit Squad can help pay for new competition shoes.
Donating $100 to the Iowa State Spirit Squad can provide us with new uniforms and costumes to proudly represent Iowa State on stage at Nationals.
Donating $200 to the Iowa State Spirit Squad can help cover the expenses of the choreography and music we use at the national competition.
Donating $500 to the Iowa State Spirit Squad can help cover team travel expenses to get us to the national competition.
Donating $1,000 to the Iowa State Spirit Squad can contribute to our funding for hotel room expenses where we will stay during our time in Daytona for nationals.