The Tampa Bay Lightning Girls can be seen at every home game, dancing up and down the aisles and hanging out in the crowd. The fans may wonder what the girls do to keep busy in the offseason.
In Crystal Wiggins’ case, the short answer is, “A lot.”
Wiggins, a team captain, is a five-year veteran of the Lightning Girls and a true-blue Plant City girl. When she’s not dancing at the home games, she’s never doing nothing: Between teaching, volunteering and being active in her church, Wiggins doesn’t have free time often.
“I can’t imagine not being busy,” she says.
But, she wouldn’t have it any other way. One could say she’s a lucky woman, because she’s been able to turn two of her passions into careers.
DANCING BY CHANCE
Wiggins’ performing career began with seven years of gymnastics and tap-dancing lessons. Later, she began cheering for Little League football and, eventually, her Plant City Raiders. But, after high school, Wiggins took a break.
“I didn’t dance or cheer in college,” she says. “My focus was on my studies.”
At the time, she was gravitating toward a career in sales. She spent two years at Hillsborough Community College, before finishing undergrad at University of South Florida — all while working at a farmer’s market. Dance wasn’t a big part of her life again until 2008, when she caught the bug on a whim.
“I had a girlfriend, and she wanted to try out,” Wiggins says. “She’s like, ‘Come try out with me!’ I had never watched hockey or knew anything about hockey.”
But, Wiggins tried out, anyway. After all, what did she have to lose?
“I was not expecting to make the team — I hadn’t danced in a while before then,” she says.
Much to her surprise, she made the cut. According to Wiggins, the Lightning get about 150 to 200 auditions a year, and only 16 girls are chosen for the team. She and her family eventually learned — and grew to love — the sport, and Wiggins loves being a part of the organization.
“The Lightning is like a big family,” she says.
However, as much as she enjoys being a part of the Lightning, it’s not her true passion.
BACK WHERE SHE STARTED
When she’s not decked out in Lightning blue, Wiggins is a reading resource coach at Knights Elementary — the same elementary school she attended as a child.
Helping kids in the classroom was also something she knew she wanted to do from an early age.
“My mom said that I used to play ‘school’ with my dolls, and also with my friends in elementary school,” Wiggins says.
After taking the 2011 season off to attend grad school, also at USF, Wiggins earned her master’s degree in education and decided to pursue a career change. She was drawn back to Plant City, with hopes of teaching elementary students. Knights gave her the opportunity, and she began by teaching kindergarten.
Last year, the administration moved her to a new position — reading resource coach — to work with kids from all grades.
“I pull students (who) are struggling with their reading and do interventions with them,” she says. “I try to help them boost their reading scores. I attend lots of workshops and just try to figure out what’s best for the student.”
It’s a task Wiggins was glad to assume. Her goal is to move up in the ranks and become a part of the administration staff. Regardless of where she ends up in the school, Wiggins is completely satisfied with where her post-sales career has taken her.
“I knew that my passion and love was for children,” she says. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
KEEPING BUSY
Outside of teaching and dancing, Wiggins finds time to volunteer and stay active in her church. She’s involved in a number of organizations from Plant City to Tampa. She has remained with the Plant City Junior Woman’s Club since she was 18.
Time management is key. In a normal week, she has to find a balance to teach, make public appearances with the Lightning Girls, rehearse every Wednesday and dance at the home games. She only seems to take a breather on Sundays, when her entire family gets together for dinner in Plant City.
“We’re a big, close family,” she says.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
CHEER CAREER
After making the team in 2008, Crystal Wiggins spent two full seasons as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning Girls. She took a brief sabbatical in the 2011 season to earn her master’s degree. She returned in 2012 and was named team captain.