Haislar Leaves a Lasting First Impression at Edwardsville Dance

A New Chapter for a Dedicated Dancer

Sarah Haislar has always known how to make an impression. For over 13 years, she was a solo ballerina, dedicating herself to the art of dance in a very specific way. However, her journey took a new turn when she joined the Edwardsville dance team during her junior year, and it was a decision that would prove to be transformative.

Her coach, Chelsea Guempel, recalls the moment Haislar first stepped onto the team. “She came into our team last year as a junior, and we were incredibly wowed by her—not just her dedication to the game but how hard she works,” Guempel said. “She's quiet, so focused, and so determined. She has this hidden gem quality that's really hard to get out of high schoolers, and we really see it in her.”

Guempel noted that it’s rare for dancers to join a team midway through their high school careers. “A lot of our kids are four-year members. Most of them, I’d say, stick with what they start. But she’s different. She’s ballet-trained—that was her focus. I’m not sure how she ended up joining—maybe her friends convinced her—but she decided to give it a whirl her junior year.” This move not only changed her own path but also inspired others. “Now we have two more people doing the same thing this year. I think as our team gets better, more people get excited to join.”

Haislar’s work and dedication earned her recognition as the Intelligencer’s MVP for Edwardsville dance. Her contributions helped the team qualify for the IHSA state tournament after finishing sixth in the 14-team Class 3A Mahomet-Seymour Sectional. It was the team’s third straight appearance and seventh in program history.

For Haislar, her role on the team was clear: be a good teammate, perform both dances, and try out for the competition team. That was her goal, and she exceeded it. “She came in as a ballerina. We asked the team to do team aerials—a no-hand cartwheel—and she had never done it before,” Guempel explained. “Within a couple of months, she got it. With no prior acro training, she picked it up so quickly. It was a true testament to her character: she sets a goal, and she gets it.”

While most members of the Edwardsville dance team are ballet-trained, many also train in jazz and hip-hop. Haislar didn’t follow that pattern, but it didn’t matter. “Most of our kids are ballet-trained,” Guempel said. “But when someone is solely focused on ballet and hasn’t trained in jazz or hip-hop, that’s unique. She truly is a ballerina in her training.”

Haislar’s impact extended beyond the team. She earned All-Southwestern Conference honors after the Tigers finished second at the SWC Competition. During the regular season, Edwardsville swept the IDTA and IHSA honors at Belleville East and Edwardsville competitions on Dec. 14 and Jan. 4, respectively, with wins for IHSA Class 3A category, Illinois Drill Team Association (IDTA) AAA Hip Hop and IDTA AAA Jazz.

At the IDTA State Finals on Feb. 15, the Tigers finished third for their jazz routine. Following the high school season, Edwardsville competed in the Contest of Champions in Orlando in late February, early March. Haislar faced a challenging situation during the jazz routine due to injuries and sickness affecting the lineup.

“We had to make up a new routine, and she did it. I think she learned an entirely new dance two hours before we were on the floor. It was completely different—nothing she’d learned before,” Guempel said. “She got put into someone else’s spot, learned all new parts, and killed it. It was amazing. The craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”

As Haislar prepares for her second season on the dance team, Guempel is eager to see what she can accomplish next. “This year, all of our returning seniors took on leadership roles,” Guempel said. “She’s now our lyrical dance leader, and I know she’ll be awesome in that role too.”