There’s a stigma surrounding change and starting over; people often find it scary or depressing. For Kaili Decker, change is embraced and welcomed with open arms.
Decker, a University of Iowa fourth-year student majoring in exercise science on the pre-physical therapy track, transferred to the UI just before her third year. Feeling two years behind her new peers and eager to make the most of her time, she immediately started brainstorming ways to
get involved.
“I got here, got to work on my classes, and was trying to figure out what I’m going to do while I’m here. Because obviously I’m here to meet people too. So I joined ultimate frisbee on a whim, and it was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Decker said.
The Saucy Nancy’s, the UI’s Ultimate Frisbee Team, acted as a gateway to meeting some of her closest friends.
The club sport has three practices a week and three to four tournaments per semester, and Decker fully immersed herself in
the experience.
By her fourth year, she was the team’s fundraising chair. Not only did she take on the position with excitement, but she also managed to raise around eight grand this year in acknowledgement of the expenses that come with joining a club sport.
Though she said the Saucy Nancy’s provided her with a multitude of amazing memories and experiences, her last tournament held a special place in her heart.
“It was our regional tournament and my last tournament on this team, so it was really sentimental for all of us. We played against the people we’ve been playing for the past two years and ended our last game against Iowa State with a win, and it was just such a good way to end things off,” Decker said.
Although Iowa State is a long-lasting rival for the UI, Decker noted it was always fun playing them because the girls on that team are “genuinely so sweet.” One of the things she loved so much about ultimate frisbee was the spirit that lives at the very core.
If time permits, “spirit circles” often formed at the end of each game, allowing the girls from each team to mingle and chat while tipping their metaphorical hats in a salute to a good game. Complete with spirit captains and prizes, the sport channels into an incredibly wholesome and
genuine environment.
During her time on the team, Decker grew close to Sky Hoffman, a Saucy Nancy captain.
“Kaili spreads joy wherever she goes. People are drawn to her by her fun-loving energy and passion for everything she does, but they stay because of her compassion, kindness, and fierce love for her friends. She’s genuinely so cool — I admittedly copy her style whenever possible, and her music taste and well-rounded interests give her something to talk about with everyone,” Hoffman said.
Though frisbee was a foundational aspect of her time at the UI, Decker found other ways to take advantage of what the university had to offer.
At the end of her 2025 fall semester, Decker uncovered the opportunity for an internship through the Community Health Collaborative, a campus program under the Department of Health and Human Physiology. The program, referred to informally as the CHC, aims to improve community well-being by offering evidence-based preventive health services while providing experiential learning and hands-on training for university students.
Through her internship, Decker helps to run a variety of health tests and conducts research studies. After building her experience for a full semester, she confidently acknowledged her skill growth and gratitude for the opportunity.
Following the end of her senior year, Decker plans to take a gap year and then apply to PT school, saying that she would love to come back to Iowa as it has been an excellent place for her to grow and expand on her knowledge.
“The [UI] has definitely changed me for the better,” Decker said. “Even though my experience was delayed, I think it has challenged me in the best ways possible, and I am so excited to see what the future holds.”