Iowa State Reps attend official Qualifier tournaments to award Golden Ticket invites to the top two finishing teams at each grade level, and answer questions from coaches and families.  Please say "hello" when you see them!

Jenifer Carstensen
Jenifer grew up in Pennsylvania and attended Mansfield University for her undergraduate degree in Education. After moving to Iowa in 2006, she earned her Master's Degree from UNI and Drake and currently serves as the district ELL Director and high school Spanish teacher in Mount Vernon. She also serves as the Director of Education at Sylvan Learning Center in Cedar Rapids. Jenifer, her husband and two daughters reside in Cedar Rapids and love to travel, kayak and all things sports (Go Hawks!). Her daughters play soccer and softball, as well as manage the high school basketball team, so you can usually find her on the sidelines or bleachers of a local field or court. Jenifer's favorite food is soup and she always eats her dinner in a bowl so she can mix everything together before eating it. Even food is better when it has a team!

Gracie Griffioen
Gracie grew up in the Midwest and has been in the Cedar Rapids area for the last nine years. With her Bachelors in Marketing from the University of Northern Iowa, Gracie worked at an ad agency after college and most recently helps promote a local chiropractor office. 

She first started playing basketball in 4th grade and continued to play throughout high school. As a fan of basketball, and sports in general, she likes cheering on Iowa State basketball teams, the Green Bay Packers, and her favorite pro basketball player, LeBron James. 

In her free time, she likes to try new restaurants, go to local events and shows, watch sports, workout, travel with friends and family, and be creative. Gracie is looking forward to meeting new people and growing as a returning State Rep this season! 

Ahmad Ingram
Ahmad was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but currently goes to school in Cedar Rapids at Mount Mercy University, studying Information Systems Security. He fell in love with basketball in the sixth grade and has played at the junior college, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. During the summers, Ahmad has worked for the Milwaukee Bucks and done training and mentorship for players between 3rd and 12th grades back in the Milwaukee area. In his free time, Ahmad likes to hoop, work out, play video games, spend time outdoors, watch basketball, and travel. His favorite NBA player is Kyrie Irving.

Paiton Wallis
Paiton Wallis is a lifelong basketball enthusiast with a true love for the game. She started playing at a young age and spent years developing her skills and understanding of basketball through competition and practice. Her passion for the sport naturally led her to coaching, and she now coaches freshman volleyball at Iowa City West High School where she mentors young athletes and helps them build both skill and confidence on the court.

Paiton is finishing her degree at the University of Iowa this semester, majoring in Communications and is focused on a career in sports event planning and coordinating. Through internships and involvement in sports events, she has gained hands-on experience organizing tournaments, managing logistics, and creating fun and engaging experiences for athletes and fans alike.

Outside of sports, Paiton enjoys hanging out with friends, working out, thrifting, listening to music, and exploring new places and adventures. Her energy, creativity, and lifelong connection to basketball and sports makes her enthusiastic and excited to be a part of the State Basketball Championship staff.