Kelsey Coleman will have a fellow Tigerette joining her when she leaves Excelsior Springs High School for William Jewell College.

As The Standard reported March 31, Coleman recently signed a letter of intent to dance and study at the Liberty-based NCAA Division II school.

Grace Nedblake also has signed with William Jewell, where she’ll be part of the school’s dance team, performing at various sports events during the school year. Nedblake and Coleman will join coach Emily West as part of the troupe.

“I chose William Jewell because I loved the atmosphere the girls created when I was there for the tryouts,” Nedblake said.

For Nedblake, the journey to William Jewell began at age 3, when she started dancing as part of Elite Dance Co. in Liberty. She used that experience to help her in her four years with the Tigerettes, a dance team that also performs at sports events.

“I am going to miss the people I have been dancing with since my freshman year,” she said. “We have such a great bond and it is hard to think I won’t be dancing with them next year.”

Nedblake credits her mother Kristi for her dancing accomplishments.

“My mom has always pushed me to achieve what I want, no matter what, and she has always been in my corner,” she said.

At William Jewell, Nedblake will work toward becoming an ultrasound technician as she studies in one of the nursing programs. The biggest challenge will be balancing her studies with her dancing, she said.