When Maddie Walsh decided to join the Penn State CrossFit Club during her second year at Penn State, she was unaware that she would meet her best friend and future THON dancing partner, Maddie Williams.

As fourth-year students, Williams and Walsh have always dreamed of dancing For The Kids. Joining the CrossFit club not only provided the pair with the space to indulge in a sport they love and the chance to form a community on campus, but also gave them a unique outlet to get involved with THON. 

Whether it be Williams standing with the CrossFit Club each year at THON or Walsh’s position as the club’s THON chair, they have both explored their THON-related interests through their CrossFit involvement. Williams shared how, after standing with the club during her first THON Weekend, she immediately knew that she wanted to eventually dance for the organization.

“I honestly didn’t really know much about THON coming in my freshman year, but hearing about it in our classes at CrossFit, I was so excited to get to that first THON. Since freshman year, my first thought was that dancing was something I really wanted to do at some point, especially for the CrossFit club,” said Williams.

Considering the pair’s distinct goal of dancing at THON, finding out that they were going to be dancers for the CrossFit Club for THON Weekend 2026 was truly a dream come true. The club has been a strong source of community for the pair over the years, and having the opportunity to dance for the club’s THON families was an honor that Williams and Walsh were grateful to take on.

Any hesitation or anxiety toward dancing was quickly eliminated when Walsh and Williams remembered that they would be doing it alongside their best friend. 

“We were a little nervous going into it, but it was super exciting. And also, we’re best friends. So it was just really exciting to be able to do it together,” Walsh commented.

The CrossFit Club’s THON families are a major source of motivation for Walsh and Williams throughout THON Weekend 2026. Walsh, Williams, and the entire club have been able to grow closer to the club’s two THON families over the years.

From spending time with them at past THON Weekends to watching CrossFit competitions together, Walsh emphasized that connecting with the club’s families is the most important and impactful aspect of her THON involvement. 

“It is just really special to be able to represent this club, especially after we’ve gotten so close with all the amazing families. Our family lives close to where we have one of our competitions, so they always come, they’ve come for 2 years now, and they’ll bring us little cards. It’s really sweet,” Walsh explained. “Being close with the families is the most impactful part of it. That’s why we stand, and they’re the reason that we do this.”

Williams echoed this and shared that since the beginning of THON Weekend 2026, she has looked to the club’s THON families as her source of inspiration and a reminder of why she is grateful to dance for the next 46 hours.

“There was one point recently where I was like, ‘Oh, I’m getting a little tired,’ and then we saw our THON families, and I was revived. I was just hanging out with them, playing with them on the scooters and stuff. And next time I see them, I’ll feel the same way,” said Williams. “They love it here. They have such a great time, and it’s nice to be down here with them.” 

In addition to keeping their families at the forefront of their THON 2026 experience, the pair shared how they plan to fully soak in every moment of their last THON. While it may seem easy to let the hours slip by as a dancer, Williams and Walsh are determined to be present throughout the weekend and bask in the feeling of finally achieving their goal of dancing.  

“I hope to make it through the weekend feeling relatively good the whole time, but also I hope to absorb everything around me, because we’re seniors. We’re not going to be able to experience anything like this ever again. We’re going to try our best to be present,” said Walsh.