Thiel College cheer squad earns bid to national event

Posted August 20, 2021 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College cheerleaders attended a National Cheerleaders Association summer camp on August 16-17 in preparation for competing at NCA College Nationals in April 2022.

The Thiel athletes competed in the Rally Routine, which consisted of multiple sections such as motions, pyramid, partner stunts, and overall crowd appeal. NCA staff members worked closely both days, building and critiquing skills needed to score high in the Intermediate Division III level.

The Tomcats received both a superior ribbon for their informal evaluation and finished the day with a Bronze Bid to nationals.

Cheer and dance coach Randall Burnett G’22 and assistant coach Tyla Belton ’21, G’22 are working with the athletes to better their skills, advance their knowledge and become ambassadors representing Thiel College on a national level. When Burnett took over the program in 2018, there were seven members of the cheer squad. The squad is now three times as large with 21 team members.

“Each year, I bring in young ladies that I believe will represent Thiel with pride and add to the program’s overall talent,” Burnett said. “It has been a personal goal of mine to represent Thiel College on a national level, and I am extremely excited to compete at NCA Nationals in Daytona.”

Burnett and Thiel College junior Madison Jaszemski ’23 are NCA Staffers representing the northeast region, and squad members Cassidy Claypoole ’24 and Kaitlyn Schmidt ’25 were invited to try out to be a part of the prestigious group.

The Tomcat cheerleaders will be taking the field for the first time since 2020 on September 11, 2021, during the Tomcats’ first home football game against Washington & Jefferson.