Michelle Cleveland named competition cheer coach at Bob Jones
MADISON- Michelle Cleveland knows cheerleading and she knows Bob Jones so when she expressed interest in the recently vacated competition cheer coach position, Athletic Director Brian Givens didn’t have to look any further.
Givens and Bob Jones Principal Sylvia Lambert made it official Tuesday. Cleveland, who teaches AP Biology, is already working with the competition cheer squad.
Former coach Zoe Williams stepped down after the team competed at Nationals in early March. Williams was the cheer coach for five years and has been helping Cleveland with the transition.
“I’ve been in this business a long time,” Cleveland said. “I have been in it at the ground level and seen competition cheer evolve. I have coached all-star cheerleading since the 1980’s. I started two programs doing competition cheer. It was more for the kids to give them something to work for and to get recognition. People know us by how we cheer for the football team and being community leaders and after that lets do this to give the kids some recognition.”
Cleveland came to Bob Jones in 2012 after spending seven years at Liberty. Before that she was at Lawrence County as their cheer coach.
“Three years ago Mr. Parker asked me to take over the basketball cheer program so I did. I wanted to get them to a level and improve them and we have built that program. They used to never stunt, now they stunt. So I decided this is the time I wanted to get back into the competition part.”
The season stretches almost the entire school year from tryouts in April through summer practices and camp, busy football season, then competition season that goes until Nationals in March.
“You have to find a way to make it fun. You miss it when you are not in it and I missed it for the last five years. It is full time and we have a lot of obligations. But I checked with my husband and he said ok. Our two sons are in college so we are empty nesters.”
Zoe Williams is assisting her with paperwork and forms so Michelle can work with the cheer team to get ready for tryouts April 5-6.
Cleveland is inheriting a team that won a state championship in December and at nationals advanced through preliminaries and semi’s to the finals.
“They did real well. Winning national championships is what we will strive for but like any sport it has ups and downs. Cheerleading is very subjective. It is not like a football game who scores the most points wins. My philosophy is I want you to hit your potential. We will do the best we can do and wherever we end up we did our best and can’t be unhappy.”
Givens said that he had a number of applicants.
“We are lucky to have her,” Givens said. “We know Michelle has the experience and knowledge. We have seen the growth of the basketball cheer squad under her leadership. We know she will hold the kids accountable and develop a championship mindset to fulfill the girls potential . She has a very high level of expectation in the classroom and it carries over on the mat.”
