'A trailblazer': Husker Scarlets bring first male dancer to team
The September heat hung over Memorial Stadium as thousands of fans packed together in the stands for the season opener against Ohio. The crowd roared as Nebraska players spilled onto the field, but on the sidelines a new face stared back into the sea of red.
Carson Woods, a freshman psychology major, stood alongside the Husker Scarlets, making history as the first male dancer to join the team.
“I was obviously really nervous, being the first boy out on a team with historically girls,” Woods said.
Woods said the significance of the moment was not lost on him. He knew he was stepping into a role no one had held before, but he also knew he hadn't gotten there by accident.
Before arriving at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Woods spent years building a resume in dance. He started dancing shortly before high school, then spent the next four years on his high school team while also competing on an all-star team and performing with a pre-professional dance company.
As a member of the Energizers Dance Team, Woods became a two-time world champion.
By his senior year, Woods decided he wanted to see if he could take dance to the collegiate level. After going through the recruiting process, he received an offer from Nebraska.
The opportunity carried additional significance for Woods, whose family had lived in Nebraska before moving out of the state. He grew up in Kiel, Wisconsin, a small community where he said he was the only student from his high school class to attend a Division I school.
“It was such a full circle,” Woods said. “Speaking for my whole class, it's like, this is like one of the most insane moments of our lives.”
When Woods visited Nebraska for the spring game, he said that was when he knew he wanted to be part of the team.
“I was so emotional. I couldn't believe it was my real life,” Woods said.
Woods said that his coach told him he would be the first male to join the team right when he received his offer.
“It was super exciting,” Woods said. “It was just like a trailblazer.”
Reese Wilson, a freshman pre-health major and a member of the Husker Scarlets, said Woods has quickly become a positive presence in the group.
“Carson, as a teammate, is one of the most lighthearted, energetic and positive people in the room,” Wilson said. “He always is able to bring the team together in laughter and excitement.”
Wilson said that Woods’ work ethic inspires the team and that he is an amazing friend to everyone.
Woods said this support has made him feel more comfortable in his role, despite the nerves that come along with being the first male dancer on the team.
“I have such an insanely supportive group of girls behind me, like, they would go to war for me,” Woods said. “At the end of the day, no matter what anyone says, I always will have my team, I’ll always have my coaches, and I just find comfort in that.”
By the season opener, Woods had spent weeks practicing with his teammates and preparing for the first game. When he took the field for the third-quarter performance, the nerves gave way to the moment he had spent years working toward.
“The vibes were so insane,” Woods said. “You can't even see people. You just see red and black. It was incredible.”
For Woods, that game was the first step in what he hopes will be a four-year career with the Husker Scarlets. He also said he hopes his experience can encourage others to pursue opportunities they may be hesitant to try.
“I never thought I would even dance collegiate,” Woods said. “If I can just inspire one person to do anything that they wouldn't have done before, literally just do it because for me, the opportunity that I got from this, my life has changed for the best.”