As March rolls around and Golden Line’s season comes to an end, tradition continues with awards, pass downs and superlatives. While some traditions can be silly, there are many that hold high sentimental value within the team. In September of 2014, Natalie Timm, a Golden line senior, was tragically killed in a car crash on her way home from work. The death strongly impacted her loved ones, including her dance team, Golden line.

“She did this with a quiet determination and work ethic. She took private studio lessons when she needed to, she practiced at all hours when she had to, she asked me for feedback when it was hard to ask for it. I never heard a complaint. I never heard her blame others. I never heard her utter an unkind word to or about anyone; she would just give a look and say, “Well…” without engaging in ad hominem attacks. So easy-going–even if she didn’t like something or held some skepticism, she would just shrug and do it anyway. I could always trust that she was going to do what she said she would do. She grew into a beautiful young woman, seemingly overnight. So beautiful. So talented. So funny. So kind,” Kara Muller, former Coach of Golden line during Natalie’s time on the team, said.

Timm was quickly loved by her team and everyone else around her, even by strangers at NDA dance camp.

“She was christened ‘Nugget’ at camp when their NDA buddy was doing mnemonic tricks to learn their names. So, she was Natalie/Nugget, as she was a tiny little thing. As coaches, we were supposed to handle our job with dignity. Instead, we stood on the sideline gigging hysterically over the cuteness of ‘Nugget’ and the endless supply of chicken nugget jokes. The name stuck and she was, from then on, our ‘Nug’,” Muller said

Timm was beloved by her team simply for being herself and letting her bright personality shine.

“Natalie had a passion for life and dance. Remembering her reminds us all of how short life is and to live each day to its fullest doing what you love with those that you love,” Megan Butler, the current head coach of Golden line said.

Golden line has continued to remember and honor Natalie through their traditions. One tradition is that every year at the banquet, the Goldenline dance team’s bear named Gary gets passed down to the girl, typically a senior, who is “most like Natalie Timm”.

“Gary is very important not only in remembrance of Natalie Timm, but I also think he is a great symbol of friendship and good luck. Every year we add something special and he comes to every competition, and we kiss the lucky penny on his foot. Gary symbolizes the importance Natalie Timm had on the team and the long lasting importance of legacies and friendships on Golden line,” Lia Burke, 12, said.

In the past girls have added on wings, earrings, jewelry and more. Natalie herself added the Tiffany blue tutu during her homecoming week. This year Burke passed him down to Anna Steele, 11.

“Receiving Gary was the most impactful thing I have ever received. Natalie’s parents have always described her as kind, selfless, loving to all and just an amazing human being and I am very proud that he was passed on to me and people can see those same traits in myself. I always try to be the best version of myself, especially for my teammates, and it makes me happy to know that Gary was passed on to me and that others see the dedication I have and I hope that everyone always strives to have a little Natalie Timm and Gary in them,” Burke said.

Gary is a symbol of not only the remembrance of Natalie but also the strength and resilience of both the team.

“She wasn’t the strongest dancer her freshman year, but was a solid performer, placed in the front, her senior year. She worked her tail off,” Said Muller “She grew into a beautiful young woman, seemingly overnight. It seemed to me that she went to bed 14 years old and woke up 25. Awkward-teen to model-gorgeous in a day,”

Before every performance, you can see Golden line standing in a circle, seniors giving reminders, affirmations and the team holding hands with right crossed over left. They go around the circle saying “I’ll do it for you if you do it for me”, and end with a cheer to remember Natalie.

“I think it’s very special how we say ‘I’ll do it for you if you do it for me, I’ll do it for you if you do it for Nat’ before we dance every time, because we know that Natalie is cheering us on above, and we will always continue to honor her before doing the thing she loves most,” Burke said.

In honor of Natalie, every year on the day she passed, the Goldenline seniors go out to the bench dedicated to her on Rock Hollow Trail in Wildwood.

“Her parents had the bench installed, so we went down there the first anniversary after she passed with the chalk and flowers. We just kept doing that,” said Muller

They cover it with flowers, bows, chalk on the concrete around it and even bring Gary the bear with them as they do it.

“We decorate the bench to celebrate the legacy and impact Natalie Timm left and our appreciation for all of the support her friends and family have shown the team every year,” Abbie Lasley, 12, said.

In addition to decorating the bench, the closest game to the day that she passed, Golden line wears some form of memorabilia for her. Most of the time, they wear some form of robin egg blue, often as a bow or ribbon in their hair. Though, seniors occasionally switch it up and will wear something else, such as in 2023 they wore angel pins.

“Robin’s Egg Blue was Natalie’s favorite color. By wearing that color, we wanted to pay tribute to her legacy as an entire team and show that even though we didn’t all know Natalie personally, her story has inspired us all in many different ways inside and out of the team,” Lasley said.

Honoring Natalie Timm isn’t just for the girls on Goldenline though. Each year at their Summer Little Girl Camp, on the last day they award one eighth grade girl with the Natalie Timm award.

“The Natalie Timm award is given to the girl who demonstrates kindness, positivity and a joy of dancing, just like Natalie,” Butler said.

Whichever Golden line girl previously won the award (assuming she is on the team) gets to present the award to its recipient at the camp. It is a special way for Golden line to continue to honor Natalie with people outside of their own group. This year, the award went to Claudia –. The current Golden line girls holding the award are Steele, Harper Clark, 10, and Analeigh Marshall, 9.

“I feel honored because I feel like it’s such a big thing that someone can get. Being able to honor her, and getting an award about her, and getting recognized as someone that has her similar personality,” Marshall said.

As Golden line has continued to show tribute to Timm, her parents have continued to stay connected to the team since her death, and continue to show much support for the program.

“Her parents have surprised the team with treats over the years, and come in to visit and talk to the team. They have expressed how much it means to them when they see GL still honoring their daughter/sister in so many ways,” Butler said.

Golden line is very grateful for their continued support to the team throughout the years and hope that it will continue as years go on.

“It feels very special to me to be able to continue Natalie’s legacy. From all the stories I hear, Golden line was her absolute favorite thing in the world, as it is mine. I think it’s incredible how we can share these stories and encourage people to try their hardest, and that a stuffed animal also symbolizes the greatest values on goldenline. I always want my teammates to feel encouraged and valued, and I think that’s one of the main things I will leave behind from the honor of continuing the Natalie Timm legacy, knowing she wanted same,” Burke said.

Natalie Timm will forever and always be remembered as the kind, caring and wonderful person and teammate she was. Golden line will continue to honor her legacy in their own special way and continue their traditions. They will honor her as they dance and put their heart into all they do for Golden line.

“I have felt incredibly honored and privileged to get to continue on Natalie’s legacy. Not by just being a dancer on Eureka Golden Line, but getting to share her story and legacy with the new team members. Whether it is in our huddle or at the games, we always want to remember the impact Natalie left on the team. I hope that as the Golden Line continues to grow throughout the years, Natalie’s legacy is never forgotten,” Lasley said.