Cyclone Power Provides Nonstop Energy
There are almost 60+ collegiate water ski teams across the country. So many, that it can be hard to stand out as a team and establish national recognition beyond other teams. Every year, the NCWSA recognizes one exemplary team.
The 2018 team of the year is a team that is not only amazing on the water, but is amazing off the water too. You know when this team arrives at a tournament. You know when this team is on the water, in fact, it is incredibly hard not to notice them. They are loud, they are proud, and they have redefined the standards for the spirit award. You see them every year at Nationals. They are a Midwest powerhouse with some of the best skiers in the region. I can even hear their chant CYCLONE POWER ringing in my ears. The Iowa State University is the proud recipient of the 2018 NCWSA Team of the Year award.
“To be recognized nationally as a team who puts others first and exemplifies what a collegiate water ski is all about, means the world to our team”, Chris Kownick 2018 Team Captain, now President of the team and Vice Chair of the Great Plains conference says.
Everyone on the team is very supportive and so friendly. Not only do they bleed red and gold (Iowa State colors), but they bleed Midwest pink. As well as cheering for themselves, Iowa State will get up and cheer for their friends, and other Midwest teams just as loud as they would for themselves. Many members are leaders with strong influences in both the Midwest community and the National community. Several members maintain board positions at the NCWSA, the MCWSA, or the Great Plains Conference levels.
The Iowa State Cyclones took home the spirit award at the 2017 NCWSA Nationals. The team never fails to bring the spirit every year, and they were even a major contender this past year at the Connelly Skis 2018 NCWSA Nationals, where they placed 3rd in division 2.
One quality that makes this team so strong is their outstanding work ethic. They push into late season, well after nationals. You can find this team on Dream Lake Estates, their beautiful home site, skiing in frigid temperatures. Their passion and dedication for the sport is incredible. If you are unable to spot Iowa State skiers on shore or skiing at a tournament, you can probably spot them up in towers, driving or riding in boats, or assisting somewhere with judging, scoring, or cameras. In 2018, they hosted an amazing Midwest Alumni Regionals tournament during the summer and an additional 2 collegiate tournaments during the fall ski season. For one of those tournaments, they stepped up last minute and ran the tournament at their site when another site experienced flooding. They are one of the hardest working teams in the Midwest and across the entire nation, and it truly shows.
Our goal as a team is to better this great community, and to hopefully have some of that energy rub off onto other teams and make this sport even better off!
Personally, watching this team grow over the years has been incredible and knowing the 2018 team has been a an absolute pleasure. If you looked back at this team 3-4 years ago, you would see a group of 3-event newbies trying to fit into the large bindings of the skiers before them, just learning to trick, slalom, and jump. 3-4 years and lots of hard work later, you have these same 3-event newbies soaring 70+ feet off big red (men and woman!) and a strong team that can slay buoys like nobody’s business. They made a name for themselves, and have surpassed the high standards that were set by Iowa State skiers before them. Although they are losing quite a few members for their upcoming 2019 season, I have no doubt that this team will continue to grow and maintain their current standard of excellence that is now synonymous with the Iowa State Water Ski Team.
The water ski community has changed all of our lives, and I can say that with confidence. When we all look back 20 years from now, we will remember these days as something that completely shaped who we are as people. Being awarded the team of the year will only make us love this sport even more, and will make us do our best to pass this on to the next generation.
Congratulations and good luck!
Congratulations to the Iowa State University Water Ski Team on winning the 2018 NCWSA Team of the Year award. We look forward to your spirit shenanigans, great skiing, and water ski community contributions for years to come.
- UW-La Crosse Sweeps at the Jacob Kaufmann Memorial Classic - September 25, 2019
- UW-La Crosse Skigles Soar Into First at Hawkeye Skifest - September 18, 2019
- Midwest Skiers Have a Field Day at Twin Lakes CornFest - September 5, 2019
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