Miss America LaBenz named Grand Island Senior High head dance coach

The former Islandaire dance captain will lead the program starting in the 2026-27 season.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:21am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a high school dance team performance, with sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the team's colors of purple and gold, conveying the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the Islandaire Dance Team.The vibrant, geometric illustration captures the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the Islandaire Dance Team as they prepare for a new era under the leadership of their new head coach, Miss America LaBenz.Grand Island Today

The Grand Island Senior High Islandaire Dance Team will have a new head coach for the 2026-27 season, as the school has announced the hiring of Miss America LaBenz. LaBenz, a former three-year dance captain for the Islandaires, brings 19 years of dancing experience and a history of success with the program, including earning All-American status and helping lead the squad to a second-place finish at the NCA State Dance Championships in 2022.

Why it matters

The Islandaire Dance Team is a source of pride for the Grand Island community, and LaBenz's appointment as head coach represents a homecoming for a talented dancer who is now poised to take the program to new heights. Her experience and accolades suggest she has the potential to build on the team's recent success and continue the Islandaire legacy.

The details

LaBenz will take over the Islandaire Dance Team from Kelby Mayfield, who is resigning to pursue a teaching position elsewhere. In addition to her 19 years of dancing experience, LaBenz served as a three-year dance captain for the Islandaires from 2019-2022, during which time she earned a dancer of the year finalist nomination, achieved All-American status three times, and helped lead the squad to a second-place finish at the NCA State Dance Championships in 2022.

  • LaBenz was a dance captain for the Islandaires from 2019-2022.
  • The Islandaires finished second at the NCA State Dance Championships in 2022.
  • LaBenz will begin her tenure as head coach for the 2026-27 season.

The players

LaBenz

A former three-year dance captain for the Grand Island Senior High Islandaire Dance Team, who has been named the new head coach for the 2026-27 season. She brings 19 years of dancing experience and a history of success with the program, including earning All-American status and helping lead the squad to a second-place finish at the NCA State Dance Championships in 2022.

Kelby Mayfield

The outgoing head coach of the Grand Island Senior High Islandaire Dance Team, who is resigning to pursue a teaching position with another school district.

Chris Ladwig

The Activities Director at Grand Island Senior High, who expressed excitement about LaBenz's return to lead the Islandaire Dance Team.

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What they’re saying

“Hi Islander nation! I'm so excited to be back but now on the other side of things! Dance is a huge part of my life. I'm looking forward to pushing this team to new heights and all of the opportunities along the way. Here's to a new chapter, it is so wonderful to be back wearing the purple and gold!”

— LaBenz, New Head Coach, Islandaire Dance Team

“I am excited to welcome Coach LaBenz back to Islander Nation. Her passion for dance and competition is evident when you talk with her. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the program that will continue to grow our Islandaire program. Her experiences will help our student-athletes continue to build on the Islander Way values that we have already established.”

— Chris Ladwig, Activities Director, Grand Island Senior High

What’s next

GISH said it will schedule opportunities for staff, students and families to connect with LaBenz before the 2026-27 school year.

The takeaway

LaBenz's appointment as head coach of the Islandaire Dance Team represents a homecoming for a talented dancer who is poised to build on the program's recent success and continue the Islandaire legacy. Her experience, accolades, and passion for dance suggest she has the potential to push the team to new heights and provide valuable leadership for the student-athletes.