Letter From Coach Closser

Steffie Lybeck Named Grad Assistant

The Blue Megaphone

season were held in April and July, and we currently have 13 members.

I am very proud of where the Program is heading. I hope that once you witness the it for yourself, you will be proud of it too.

- Melissa Closser

Welcome to the first issue of The Blue Megaphone, the official newsletter of the U r b a n a U n i v e r s i t y Cheerleading Alumni Society. This newsletter is to keep UU c h e e r l e a d i n g a l u m n i up-to-date on the Blue Knight Cheerleading Program.

I took over the program in the spring of 2009 after cheering one year at Urbana University, three years at Tiffin University, and assistant coaching one year at Graham High School. My goal was to rebuild the Program as a r e p u t a b l e c o l l e g i a t e cheerleading program with its own brand, aligned with the University’s standards. Last summer, the cheerleaders had two mandatory practices and one week of two-a-day practices, including condition-ing, to prepare them for the season. With the squad’s

hard work and dedication, we created new, larger, and more elite pyramids. After a very successful football season, I decided to create a competition squad. Eight of the ten members of the squad became the first Blue Knight Cheerleading Competition Squad, competing at the U.S. Spirit Cheer and Dance Competition held in Columbus, Ohio during the Arnold Sports Festival in March. The squad took home a first place trophy.

We also held our first cheerleading competition for local middle and high schools in February. We had four middle schools and six high schools compete, along with one high school and four all-star squads performing exhibitions.

Tryouts for the 2010-2011

The Blue Knight Cheerleading Program is proud to name Steffie Lybeck as its first graduate assistant. Steffie is a former Jonathan Alder High School and Urbana University cheerleader. She was captain of both football and basketball UU cheer squads during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons. Lybeck

graduated with a bachelor’s d e g r e e i n b u s i n e s s administration and a minor in marketing. She will be continuing her education at Urbana University by pursuing a master’s degree in business administration. She will also be the advisor for UU’s Spirit Club and the contact for the Cheerleading Alumni Society.

Inside this issue:

Letter From Coach Closser

1

Lybeck Named Cheerleading GA

1

Alumni Society Established

2

2010 - 2011 Squad Announced

2

Cheerleaders Attend COA Camp

3

2nd Annual Cheer Competition Announced

3

2009 - 2010 Season Photos

4

Urbana University Cheerleading Alumni Newsletter Summer/Fall 2010 | Vol. 1 | Issue 1

Melissa Closser Head Cheerleading Coach

Steffie Lybeck Graduate Assistant

2010-2011 Squad Members Announced

2010 Blue Knight Football Schedule - Cheerleading Events

Page 2 The Blue Megaphone

Try-outs for the 2010-2011 cheerleading squad were held in April and again in July. The Program is happy to announce that a total of 13 members (seven new and six returning) will make up the Blue Knight Cheerleading Squad this season. This year’s squad is one of the largest squads in the Program’s history. To see a complete list of the squad members, please visit our website.

With the additional new members, the Program continues its goal to rebuild and grow, creating a legitimate collegiate cheerleading program. Each squad member is dedicated to promoting spirit

and support for Urbana University. These ladies will devote hours of practice and determination to create larger, more dynamic pyramids; fun-filled pep-rally and homecoming events; and team support to all UU athletics.

We invite you to join us for one of our football games this fall to see the changes to the Program for yourself. Below is the schedule of football games the cheerleaders will be performing at this season. We hope to see you there!

Go Blue Knights!

Date Opponent Time

Saturday, September 11 (HOME OPENER) Seton Hill University 12:00 PM

Saturday, September 25 AWAY @ Walsh University 12:00 PM

Saturday, October 2 Southwest Baptist University 12:00 PM

Saturday, October 9 (HOMECOMING) Kentucky Wesleyan College 12:00 PM

Saturday, October 23 University of Charleston 12:00 PM

Saturday, November 6 Central State University 12:00 PM

The UU Cheerleading Program would like to welcome all former squad members to join the squad again and be a part of something that was a part of you during your time with us! No matter how you ended your career with the squad, long or short, by choice or by circumstances, we want you to feel welcome to be a part of the Program again.

The UU Cheerleading Alumni Society was established this year to provide our current alumni with updates on what is happening with the current Blue Knight cheerleading squad and a way to

re-connect with alumni.

By receiving this newsletter, we hope that we can give you an inside look into how the Program is growing and entice you to see the changes for yourself.

We are very proud of our alumni and invite you to cheer with the current cheerleaders during the first quarter of this year’s homecoming game on Saturday, October 9. If you would like to participate or for more information on the Society, please contact Steffie Lybeck.

Welcome to the UU Cheerleading Alumni Society

Join our cheer alumni Facebook page!

2010 Urbana University Blue Knight Football Cheerleaders

After our first successful competition, the Blue Knight Cheerleaders will be hosting our 2nd annual cheerleading competition for local middle and high school squads on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at the Warren G. Grimes Center.

This competition is not only the Program’s main fundraising event, but it serves as a recruiting tool to find cheerleading talent to enhance the Program for the future. Doors open at 9:30 AM and the

competition will start promptly at 10:15 AM. Admission is $6.00 for adults, $4.00 for children/senior citizens, and admission is free to children under five and current Urbana University students. Concessions will be open and UU 2nd annual cheerleading competition t-shirts will be sold during the competition.

So mark your calendars to join us for this fun-filled day of cheerleading!

UU 2nd Annual Cheerleading Competition

Volume 1, Issue 1

On a very hot, humid summer day in July, the Blue Knight cheerleaders met for their first camp held by Cheerleaders of America, LLC (COA). COA is a Columbus-based cheer and dance company that offers cheerleading camps and competitions for all levels of cheerleading, nationwide.

Attending camp yearly is important to keep material fresh and new, helping to improve the program. The first half of camp was devoted to learning band

dances and techniques on stretching and jumping. The second half of camp was spent learning cheers, chants, and stunting techniques. COA instructor Mallory was impressed with how quickly the squad learned the material and noted that the UU camp was one of the best she had taught this summer.

All of the material learned at camp will be reviewed during two-a-day practices this month and will be used throughout the season.

Cheerleaders Attend COA Cheerleading Camp Page 3

U

The Urbana University Cheerleaders are an integral part of UU Spirit, the University, and the community. The cheerleaders pride themselves in their goals to promote spirit and support for Urbana University, and to encourage positive crowd participation at Urbana University events. Additionally, the cheerleaders are involved with many activities on campus, including Homecoming, pep rallies, and UU Athletic support. The cheerleaders are known to be excellent ambassadors for the University. For more information, please contact Steffie Lybeck, UU Cheerleading Alumni Society contact, and Graduate Assistant at slybeck1@knightnet.urbana.edu.

Urbana University | 579 College Way, |Urbana, Ohio 43078 http://sports.urbana.edu/index.php/spirit/cheerleading/

2009 - 2010 Season Photos