Looking to “raise spirit” at Oklahoma Christian University, the athletic department announced the addition of a competitive cheer squad for the 2019-20 academic year.
Athletic Director David Lynn shared the news Monday, Feb. 18, and named Susan Jones, a student success academic coach, as the head coach of the squad.
As reported by Oklahoma Christian’s Sports Information Director Murray Evans, Lynn said he is excited to bring in such an experienced coach to lead the rebirth of this program. Oklahoma Christian did have a cheer team in the past, but it fizzled out during the 2016-17 school year.
“We are excited to add cheer back to our athletic department here at Oklahoma Christian,” Lynn said. “I couldn’t be more pleased to find such an enthusiastic and talented coach as Susan Jones. Her experience and love for cheer is extremely evident, and I know she will do great things with our program.”
Jones, who was hired at Oklahoma Christian in January 2018, brings with her many years of experience within the cheerleading community, both personal and coaching experience.
From 1981 to 1985, Jones cheered for the Division I Oklahoma State University Cowboys. During her time at Oklahoma State, she helped start the Pistols, a spirit squad. Jones then opened the first cheer gym in Oklahoma City. Additionally, she has coached multiple squads and taught cheer classes across the state, including work at Dynamo Gymnastics.
Hired just a year ago, Jones said she “put a bug” in Lynn’s ear about her experience and desire to reignite the cheer program at Oklahoma Christian once she noticed the absence of a program.
Jones said she was not here in the past and has no idea what it was like, but said she looks forward to redefining the future of Eagle cheer while still incorporating past traditions such as the Nine Noises, nine students who work to hype up the crowd and lead chants.
“I don’t know anything about past,” Jones said. “I can assure you it will be nothing like the past, because I don’t know what that is. It’s going to be all new and all different. I would like to bring back the Nine Noises because I think more student involvement would be helpful in raising spirit here.”
Jones and the athletic department will start with a spirit squad cheering at athletic events in 2019, which will have a roster of approximately 20 people. It can be co-ed and will offer scholarships. Jones signed her first official recruit for the spirit squad from Springfield, MO.
In the next two years, Jones said she would also like to have an Oklahoma Christian competitive stunt squad. With a maximum 36-member, all-female roster, a stunt squad competes in “game-like” events assessing various cheerleading and gymnastic skills through choreographed performances.
Teams perform on the mat simultaneously in four quarters of play, and the team with the highest points wins.
While Jones has started recruiting for the stunt squad, she does not plan to secure a full competition roster until 2021.
The new cheerleading squad will only perform sideline at basketball games; however, Jones said she plans to have her team fully support all Eagle athletics in some capacity.
“I hope it promotes school spirit more than anything,” Jones said. When they say OC is home, I believe it. This is going to raise a level of excitement for the basketball games.”
Jones will be holding open tryouts for the 2019 spirit squad Saturday, April 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Students wishing to try out must get a registration packet from Jones’s office in the Student Success Center no later than Wednesday, April 10. Campus is allowing any student wishing to participate to stay in their dorms free of charge until Sunday, April 28.
She said she is looking for any athletes who want to skillfully represent Oklahoma Christian.
“My spirit squad can be female and male, and I will take any athlete who has skill, which is gymnastic skill, jump skill and good motion technique for sideline at the basketball games,” Jones said.
0
0
Be First to Comment