Setting the standard: Dance prepares for nationals debut

For the first time in program history, the Augustana Dance Team will take the national stage in January 2026, competing in both the Jazz and Game Day categories at the Universal Dance Association College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

The Vikings will compete in the NCAA II Open Division, which features programs from across the country that balance high-level performance with smaller roster sizes — a competitive but tight-knit field that head coach Betzi Plucker said “fits Augustana perfectly.”

What began as a long-term goal has become reality for Plucker, who’s in her sixth year with Augustana and fourth leading the dance team.

“This was the goal when I started,” Plucker said. “When I saw that first freshman class, I said before they graduate, this is the team to take to nationals. So we’re pretty excited.”

The team will perform inside the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex — a massive arena that hosts thousands of spectators and the nation’s top collegiate programs. For senior Izzy Dalton, who has been dancing since she was two and previously competed at nationals in high school, the return feels surreal.

“It’s such a big atmosphere,” Dalton said. “All these teams and people who love dance are in one place. It’s nationally broadcasted, so people across the country can watch our school and our girls. It’s really cool that we get to represent Augustana like that.”

Senior Lily Holtman, who began dancing at a studio when she was 4 years old, shared that the journey to nationals has been years in the making. 

“Our coaches kind of mentioned this direction last spring, and it’s been in the talks since my freshman year,” Holtman said. “It’s the first time in program history for us, so it’s really exciting.”

In preparation, the team has adopted a clear message: Set the standard.

“That’s our motto this year,” Holtman said. “We want this to be our standard going forward — not just for us, but for future teams. We’re kind of going for it, and we’re excited about it.”

That mindset has translated into long hours of practice and new levels of physical conditioning.

“I feel like we’re really hungry for it,” Dalton said. “We’ve added workouts, running and conditioning because we want to do really well.”

Plucker said the intensity has carried over to the coaching staff as well.

“On our side, we’ve been really intentional about adding specific skill sets,” she said. “We’re looking for athletes that can hold their own in turns, tricks and stamina. It’s no longer an easy tryout to get on this team.”

The group will learn its official choreography in late October from Noah Roddy, a nationally recognized choreographer. The timing, Plucker said, works perfectly with their game day schedule.

“He’s coming on a non-game-day weekend,” she said. “We’ll fill that time with choreography and then add extra practices on top of our regular schedule.”

While excitement is high, one of the team’s biggest challenges is financial.

“We’re fully self-funded for nationals,” Plucker explained. “The school doesn’t provide anything, so everything comes from fundraisers or what the athletes pay.”

Despite that hurdle, Plucker said the dancers have embraced the grind — hosting kids clinics, volunteering in the community and even taking cleaning shifts around town to cover costs.

Holtman said that dedication is nothing new.

“We fundraise a lot for ourselves,” she said. “Money will always be an issue, but it’s not new for us. We just put our own effort into it.”

For the seniors, nationals is more than a competition — it’s the culmination of years of teamwork, leadership and community pride.

“It’s nice to be able to cheer on other athletes and bridge the gap between Augie and the community,” Holtman said. “I love being part of something bigger and having a group of girls I can lean on.”

As January approaches, the team is focused on representing Augustana well and setting a lasting standard for those who follow.

“Being in our first year, people will be watching,” Plucker said. “We’ve got really talented dancers, and this team deserves to be seen.”