It’s another sold-out competition at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The women’s basketball team calls a timeout, giving the Hawkeyes a precious 30 seconds to regroup, rehydrate, and restrategize.

Under the lights of Kinnick Stadium, Carissa Wolfe spins, bends, and launches a baton into the air as she performs with the Hawkeye Marching band. She first picked up a baton at 4 years old, and she’s ...