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Mercurio set to show off on the sidelines as part of UIndy dance team
Part of the pageantry of college sports is watching the various elements beyond the competition on the gridiron or hardwood.
Those keeping up with the exploits of the University of Indianapolis this season will find a familiar face active on the sidelines this fall.
North Putnam graduate Sadie Mercurio signed on to join the Greyhound dance team starting in the 2024-25 school year.
“I’ll be dancing on the sideline at games,” Mercurio said. “Before that, I’ll be learning the dances for gamedays for both football and basketball as well as possibly competing at Nationals in April.”
The UIndy dance team has found success in recent years as it won its first national title in 2022 at the Dance Team Union’s College Classic National Championships, followed by a second title in 2023.
Mercurio said she always had an idea that she wanted to go to UIndy and that dance became a key part of her plans as a senior.
“My mom signed me up for dance classes at age five,” Mercurio said about how she got started into dance. “By third grade, I was involved in competitions and it’s turned into something I’ve always done.”
As for recruitment, Mercurio said the school held a clinic in February and things took off from there.
“I met the coaches and the team members when I went to the clinic in February,” Mercurio noted. “They didn’t give me much feedback at the time but said they would keep me updated, along with other things that wanted from me, which included video and two references, all things I had.
“There is a certain skill set you have to have but they said I met those requirements and went forward with the recruitment process.”
Apart from being on the dance team, Mercurio said UIndy felt like a natural fit for her.
“I like the small campus,” Mercurio said. “Everything is so close to UIndy.
“It feels more like North Putnam than a big Division I school. The classes were smaller and working one-on-one with a professor is easier.
“I want to study biology on a prevet track,” Mercurio added. “I’ll study for four years at UIndy and, if I know I want to continue being a veterinarian, I’ll apply to a vet school and study two or more years.”
With June halfway over, it won’t be long before Mercurio begins practicing for her new school.
“I know that, ahead of football season, we will have two camps, one in July and one in early August,” Mercurio said. “We practice Mondays and Wednesday, with Friday practices being held ahead of home games.
“The schedule will be the same for basketball before practices ramp up ahead of Nationals in April. Everyone will learn the routine for Nationals, but on a certain amount of competitors can take the floor, so I’ll find out later whether I will attend or not.”
The workload, especially later in the year, was already something Mercurio was keeping an eye on in order to find the right balance between.
“Time management will be big for sure,” Mercurio said. “With classes being at certain times on certain days, I have to manage that, practices and games.”
With a little over a month before camps begin, Mercurio said she was ready to get going and prove her worth as the year goes on.
“I’m very excited to attend UIndy,” Mercurio said. “I do know a few other people from different schools going there but it’s new, a change and I’m excited to get to know more people and take classes there this fall.”