Athletics

Continuing The Legacy

N Our Voice by Kate-Lynn McNamara

Scott Bruhn

My mom was a member of the first Husker Scarlets Dance Team.

We share a deep passion for dance, and for my mom, dancing on the field at Memorial Stadium and on the court at the Devaney Center was “an experience of a lifetime.”

Now, I'm living that same dream.

Continuing that same legacy.

I am a rookie Scarlet, and I'm incredibly proud to be involved with a program that my mom was a part of 30 years ago.

I was in the fourth grade when I submitted an essay that detailed my plan to attend the University of Nebraska and to be a member of the Scarlets dance team.

My mom never pushed me to become a Scarlet. In fact, she wanted me to make my own path and dream my own dreams. She encouraged me to consider other schools and explore every option.

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A Dance Athlete

I started dance classes at the age of two.

My parents enrolled me in dance to help me develop my social skills and to give me an opportunity to interact with other children.

It was intended to be a fun hobby, but it quickly turned into my passion.

I joined a competitive dance team when I was 6 years old, and for the next 12 years I spent my evenings at the studio and my weekends traveling to dance competitions.

Dance was my escape and a way to express myself.

I attended a small private school in Grand Island, Nebraska, where I was a member of the high school dance team.

The team was small, but I was exposed to some great opportunities, coaching, and training and I loved every minute of it.

I started to look beyond high school and considered what my college experience would look like. I knew that I wanted to study exercise science and I also knew that I wanted to continue to dance.  It would be difficult to make the dance team at Nebraska.  The team is composed of talented, driven, hardworking athletes who have years of training and experience.

I was from a small town, and I didn't necessarily have the same opportunities for visibility and training as many of the dancers from the larger communities.

I was unsure if I would be able to secure a spot on a Division I team. 

I enrolled in college dance prep clinics and attended college combines. I was receiving positive feedback, which gave me hope, increased my confidence, and gave me the motivation to keep working.

I wanted to be a Scarlet and I was 100% committed to the process of preparing to reach my goal.

A Unique Tryout Process

When it came time for the audition, I was nervous about the process, but knew that I had done everything within my power to prepare.

It's a comprehensive and challenging tryout process, that requires both physical and mental preparation.

The tryouts are held over a three-day period, and there are multiple components to the audition process.

Of course, there is a lot of dancing, but one of the most intimidating parts of the tryout process is the interview portion.

Potential members meet with a panel of judges and answer a variety of questions related to background, personality and experience, as well as knowledge of Nebraska programs and athletics, past and present.

Potential members must be prepared to engage in conversation with all types of Husker fans.  As a Scarlet you have the opportunity to represent the University and the athletic department as a student athlete and as an ambassador.

A Dream Come True

After three intense days of tryouts, I waited nervously for the roster announcement.

Finally, I received the news that would shape the course of my Husker experience, I was a Scarlet!

I was excited to be joining this storied and tradition-rich program.

How would I describe my Rookie season? I am truly living my dream!  I have had the honor of dancing at home football games, men’s and women’s basketball games and supporting other Husker Athletic Teams.  

Husker fans are the best fans in the country!  Connecting with fans at games, tailgates and Husker events taught me that this program is about so much more than dance.

I also had the opportunity to represent the University at the UDA Nationals in Orlando, Florida. It was a challenging and time-consuming experience, but it was also incredibly rewarding. I was honored to share a national stage with my teammates and compete against some of the best dance teams in the country. 

I continue to be humbled by the talent and work ethic of my teammates, and I am grateful for this group of women who are my best friends, my mentors and my family. 

As I look ahead to the rest of my time at the University of Nebraska, I'm excited to see what the future holds for this program. I know the coaches and the athletes will continue to work hard to make those women who “Husker Stepped” for the 30 years before us very proud.

I am the first Scarlet “legacy”, and I am very honored. It’s a legacy that I hold close to my heart and one that I am grateful to share with my Scarlet mom!