Get to Know the GCU Dance Team

Throughout the academic year, the Grand Canyon Dance Team works with the athletic department to provide a heightened gameday experience for many Lopes athletic events. The team members do more than just show up for games; they are ambassadors for the University by welcoming fans while providing a positive and uplifting force for the teams in NCAA competition. Away from the court, they also do philanthropic work on behalf of the University, giving a public face for the Lopes within the Phoenix community.

This unique and special group is composed of dedicated and enthusiastic individuals who help to create a daunting atmosphere for opposing teams. We caught up with a few of them to talk about their favorite moments and experiences being a part of this team. Included in this Q&A were team members ranging in experience from four years on the squad to a newcomer who has been with the team just a couple months. They are: Kara Seratte is a fourth-year team member from Glendale, Ariz.; Maddi Lynch, who hails from Chandler, Ariz., is in her third season with the GCU Dance team; Nikki Sandusky is a second-year athlete from Las Vegas; and Amanda Johnson, a native of Tempe, Ariz., is a newbie in her first year.

Question: What is your favorite part about being on the dance team?
Kara Seratte: My favorite part about being on the dance team is competing and performing with all of my sisters.
Maddi Lych: The sisterhood. You really get to know every girl on the team. There are no cliques, and I know that I can trust these girls to help me with any problem. They always encourage me to get though nursing school.
Nikki Sandusky: We are such a Christ-centered team. I love my sisters.
Amanda Johnson: My favorite part about being on the dance team is getting the opportunity to perform at the sporting events for all of the GCU fans.

Q: What is something that you didn't expect to experience as a dance team member?
Seratte: I never would have thought that we would get to compete to a worship song and that I would be able to go on a mission trip with so many of my teammates.
Lynch: How involved we are with the school. We really get to be leaders and ambassadors for GCU. I like how we get to cheer on every sports team.
Sandusky: I didn't expect so much positivity coming from a group of so many girls.
Johnson: I wasn't expecting to have such a tight group of friends who I can rely on not only for dance, but for my studies as well.

Q: What is something that you enjoy that the dance team does outside of games and practice?
Seratte: I like that we serve the community, worship Jesus and spend a lot of time with each other.
Lynch: I enjoy that we get to go out and serve the community. From children's hospitals to community gardening, we pretty much do it all.
Sandusky: I enjoy all of the sister bonding that we do. Not only are we friends in practice, but we are actually friends in real life.
Johnson: I like that we do community service because it gives us a chance to give back and grow as a team.

Q: What are you looking forward to most this year?
Seratte: This year I am looking forward to traveling and competing at nationals with my team.
Lynch: To dance at the basketball games for my third year. Each year brings a different atmosphere and the fans get crazier and crazier.
Sandusky: I am excited for all of the different themed basketball games that we have this year, and performing with twice the amount of dancers.
Johnson: I am really looking forward to traveling and competing at UDA Nationals in Orlando, Fla.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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