Written by Sara Hinds
Photos by Liz McCue
When Kelsey Brady ’23 stepped onto the Crete campus as a freshman in 2019, she did as a basketball recruit. She joined Doane’s cheer team, too. She’d participated in both sports at Malcom High School.
That’s the thing about destiny though. You have no say in the matter.
She started dancing at the age of three, but quit when she was 12 or 13. The dance studio was too far away and she’d leave school early to make practices.
There’s this other thing about destiny — you can’t avoid it.
One day her freshman year, Kelsey was running through cheer choreography in the Haddix studio. The dance team needed a sixth member to fill a vacancy and avoid point deductions in an upcoming competition.
“I did some turns just for fun, coach [Ashley Wilcox Lyon ’07] walks in and one of my teammates goes, ‘COACH! Kelsey can turn really well!’” she remembered. “And then the next day they're asking me to join the team. And I was actually really excited because in my mind I was like, I want to be on the dance team so bad. I miss it.”
When Kelsey dances, it’s innate, natural, freeing.
“It's cool that what makes me happy is now bringing me so much success as well,” Kelsey said.
She’s the 2023 GPAC Dancer of the Year and led her team to a historic season. The Tigers won their first GPAC championship and first NAIA Regional Qualifier championship, and appeared in a second-straight NAIA National Championship.
As a three-time cheer captain and one-time dance captain, her ability to lead is second nature, too. When she dances or leads, she oozes fire and efficiency. She’s the first to correct teammates and the first to offer praise.
“I love screaming ‘oh my gosh!’ when someone does a really good leap or something,” Kelsey said. “Because I know it makes other people feel really good about themselves and confidence is such a huge thing with dance.”
Since she was hired in 2015, Coach Ashley Lyon ’07 has diligently built a team culture where each athlete shines.
“Once everyone realizes their personality, how they operate, how they work, and how you can communicate with each other, it really makes a difference,” Lyon said.
Lyon recognizes her own high expectations in the same breath as her team’s ability to perform up to them. Dozens of athletes over the years, including Kelsey, have thrived under this coaching style that has earned Lyon four GPAC Coach of the Year honors.
Lyon also expects honesty and goodness in her team both as athletes and humans.
“Because it shows in your performance,” Lyon said.
Just watch Kelsey dance.
