The story could begin when she

was in eighth grade as a manager for Exira High School’s basketball

team. It could begin when, as a senior, she led the Vikings to the

Class 1A state championship. One might even wait to start the story

until after she became the school’s record-holder in six

categories.

No matter where the story

begins, ISU freshman Hallie Christofferson’s story continues in

Hilton Coliseum. Those who watch will see a player who has made the

transition to Division I basketball look easy.

The 6-foot-3-inch forward has

gotten off to a hot start with the 6-2 Cyclones. Christofferson is

averaging 8.1 points and a team-leading

6.3 rebounds per game. While she

does have an impressive vertical jump, it isn’t just her leaping

ability that has allowed Christofferson to post the numbers she

has.

“It’s her effort,” said senior

shooting guard Kelsey Bolte. “She is really tenacious. Every time

the ball goes up, she’s in there fighting for it. Her wanting the

ball more than everyone else has really paid off.”

Drake is one opponent that has

seen evidence of this. Christofferson had a breakout rebounding

performance against Drake, pulling down 14 rebounds in her second

Division I contest.

When it came time to make a

college decision, Christofferson chose Iowa State over Iowa. Coach

Bill Fennelly has stated that he is thrilled and relieved that she

chose Iowa State.

For Christofferson, the

feeling is mutual.

“I think I made my decision

the night before I signed with Iowa State,” Christofferson said.

“I’m very satisfied that I’m here. I chose Iowa State because it

was a lot closer for us and they have a great design program. Also,

having my sister here helps. Having someone here makes the

transition a lot easier.”

Christofferson’s sister,

Britta, is in her senior year at Iowa State, she throws discus for

the track and field team. Despite the four years separating the

girls in age, Britta has always been there for Hallie, both as a

competitor and a support system.

The Christoffersons have two

other older siblings, but with Hallie and Britta being closer in

age than their older brothers, the sisters <span style=

“letter-spacing: 0px;”>have formed a bond over the

years.

“Sometimes, if I want to get

away from everything, she lives just right down the road from the

practice facility,” Hallie Christofferson said. “So it’s not that

hard to go over there.”

While Hallie Christofferson

can find support from her older sister, it is the pair’s

competitive spirit that has helped shape Hallie into the competitor

she is today. Growing up <span style=

“letter-spacing: 0px;”>in Hamlin, there was plenty of free time to

practice on the concrete slab placed between two sheds on the

family farm.

“When we were younger, we used

to stay outside for hours at our concrete slab and shoot baskets,”

Britta Christofferson said. “The last couple years that I was in

high school, we used to play against each other a lot during the

summers.”

Britta Christofferson

remembers the summer after she graduated high school, when

she and Hallie

continued to play each other in the gym after they had finished

weightlifting. Britta’s goal was to help Hallie work on her post

moves.

“At this point, she was taller

than me, but I was still stronger,” Britta Christofferson said. “We

went back and forth a lot, but I think it was about

even.”

Hallie Christofferson was

thrust into a competitive environment right away in her freshman

year at Exira, but it wasn’t anything she wasn’t prepared for. When

she was in middle school, she joined the Exira High School team as

a manager. This had Hallie at every practice and game where she

could learn the system and know what was expected of the

players.

More importantly, she could

watch her older sister play basketball and dream of the day she

would be filling her shoes.

“I always looked up to her in

high school because I watched her play and I was able to watch how

they built the program,” Hallie Christofferson said. “I wanted to

continue to do those same things and fill those shoes that Britta

left.”

Britta remembers Hallie being

the first one there for the team free throw shooting sessions both

before school and in the afternoon.

The younger Christofferson was

often the last one to leave.

All the preparation paid off

for Hallie. She not only filled the shoes that her older sister

left, but also left some big shoes of her own that

may never <span style=

“letter-spacing: 0px;”>be filled again.

Along with winning a state

championship her senior year, where she averaged 30 points a game

during the playoffs, she holds the school’s records for career

points, free throw attempts and makes, rebounds, blocks and field

goal percentage.

With those numbers, her town

has hardly left her behind.

“A lot of Exira fans have come

out and watched me play this year,” Hallie Christofferson said.

“It’s awesome just to have that support from back home. They’ve

been with me all my life and I’m grateful that they are sticking

with me now too.”

Fennelly is also sticking with

Christofferson. She has earned her way into a consistent starting

spot for the Cyclones and when she doesn’t start, she has seen

significant playing time off the bench.

“She has been incredible,”

Fennelly said. “She has great instincts around the basket and has a

real knack for getting in position to get the rebound. When I watch

her play, it’s almost like watching a young Dennis Rodman play. She

has done an excellent job rebounding and is going to get even

better.”

While Hallie Christofferson

hasn’t put up another 14-rebound performance like she did

against Drake, her numbers

have been consistently good. Out of the Cyclone’s eight games, she

has pulled down at least five boards in all but two of

them.

This included a 19-point, six

rebound performance in the victory over Northern Iowa. 

“She has really helped us out

a lot,” Bolte said. “She deserves everything she has coming to her.

She’s a great team player and she comes and works her butt off in

practice everyday. We’re really lucky to have her.”

When Christofferson takes the

court with her teammates against Cal. State Northridge, her family,

her coach and her town will be watching.

They’ll be watching a young

player, whose future is uncertain, but undoubtedly

bright.