Growing up, rhinestones, horseshoes and fringe were just another part of Hannah Ortman’s everyday life. The Bringhurst native not only grew up as a competitive dancer, but took that talent to the Indianapolis Colts’ Junior Cheer program.
“I come from a family of lifelong, diehard Colts fans, so I have been bleeding blue from the very beginning,” she said. “I felt as if I had a best friend in the Colts Cheerleaders; they not only taught me how to perform but were just as focused on teaching us all how to be kind and care for one another.”
Now, 18 years later, Hannah hasn’t left the Horseshoe behind. In 2022, she officially joined the big leagues, achieving her lifelong dream of becoming an Indianapolis Colts Cheerleader.
“I have a very vivid memory of wearing my Junior Cheer uniform to school for Dream Career Day in the 5th grade; I had my sights set on being a Colts Cheerleader and nothing was going to hold me back from that!”
After graduating from Purdue University with a degree in Kinesiology and being a four-year member of the Golduster dance team, Hannah knew her dance career wasn’t over. Deciding to chase her childhood dream, she auditioned for the team, inspired largely by the women who came before her.
“I was in awe of these incredible female role models who were balancing a full-time career while also pursuing professional dance,” she said. “I credit those women for a large portion of my success today – their compassion, friendship and skill is what inspired me to pursue becoming an Indianapolis Colts Cheerleader.”
Hannah also credits her family for establishing her love for the Colts. As native Hoosiers, the Ortman family have been bleeding blue for all of Hannah’s life, making her tenure on the team all the more heartwarming.
“My mom put me in the Junior Cheer program when I was 7 which kickstarted my dream of becoming an NFL cheerleader,” she said. “In my childhood, [my family] never missed a performance, and now in my adult life, they come to every single game to support not only the Colts, but me and the rest of the cheerleaders!”
Currently in her fourth season, Hannah has represented the organization both locally and globally. From dancing in Lucas Oil Stadium, representing the organization at the 2024 NFL Draft and spreading joy to soldiers on military tours in Italy, Spain and Poland, Hannah has made countless memories, hoping to incite the same impact that was had on her.
“We are given such special opportunities to connect with people from all over and bring positivity to those in need,” she said. “Being in this role has allowed me to meet such incredible people with amazing stories. While we are making a positive impact on them, they are doing the exact same on us.”
Still, Junior Cheer holds a special place in her heart, culminating in her selection as the Head Instructor for the 2025 season. As Head Instructor, she not only leads hundreds of kids at clinics and performances, but guides her fellow teammates on how to engage with and impact the kids positively.
“With this role comes lots of responsibility but also great fulfillment – I have the opportunity to be a resource and mentor for every single child in the program, and I do my very best to make every moment count and ensure they have a great experience just as I did in my childhood,” she said.
Outside of being a Colts Cheerleader, Hannah works as a neurological rehab technician. Herself and her fellow teammates pride themselves on being multi-faceted ambassadors for the organization, and setting that standard for her Junior Cheerleaders is an important guiding principle for Hannah.
“Because Junior Cheer goes so far beyond performing, it instilled the core values of the Horseshoe in me from a young age,” she said. “I was learning firsthand how to be kind, inclusive, and positively impactful on others, and I can only hope that is the same takeaway my team and I give.”
Through countless hours practice and sheer determination, Hannah turned her dreams into reality. From watching on the sidelines as a little girl to now being in those boots herself, she’s a powerful reminder of the importance of positive mentorship.
“It feels incredibly rewarding and emotional to reflect back on the little girl I was that wanted to be exactly where I am today,” she said. “I worked very hard to achieve this dream and never lost sight of the end goal. Having the opportunity to have the same impact on Junior Cheerleaders today that I had as a child is so rewarding and all I had ever hoped for.”
