Senior cheerleader and competitive dancer Eliza Ricker came to her college choice in a unique way.
The Arlington High School student's decision to dance at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D., started with a chance finding.
“Funny enough, I was going through my drawer over the summer and I found an Augustana football shirt,” Ricker said Nov. 20. “I got really confused because I didn't know what Augustana was and where it was.”
Eventually, she found an answer — a family friend's kid had attended the school. The explanation led to the dancer's decision to give the Vikings a chance. When she arrived for a college visit, she loved what she saw.
“I thought the campus was, probably, the prettiest I've ever seen,” Ricker said. “That just cemented that I wanted to go there.”
Augustana's spirit squads presented an opportunity, too. The high school senior started dancing at age 10 and could see herself continuing in the sport.
“I was always knew if I was going to do something in college, it was going to be dance,” Ricker explained. “But I didn't know I wanted to try out for a dance team until mid-October when I met their coaches.”
About a month later at AHS, she celebrated signing with the school where she plans to study business administration.
“It was a quick turnaround,” Ricker said.
Her Eagle cheer coaches, Jaden Green and Shawna Tierney, attended the senior's Nov. 20 signing as did her family, friends and Julie's Creative Movement & Dance Studio (JCMDS) coaches from Fremont.
Now, though, Ricker really gets to look forward to what is next after high school graduation in South Dakota. She said she's looking forward to joining the Augustana team and performing sideline dances at the Vikings' stadium.
A nationals trip also looks to be in her future, which is what she's really excited to be apart of.
