03/28/2006
William Penn University
William Penn University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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WILLIAM PENN HIRES SPIRIT SQUAD COACHING STAFF

(Oskaloosa, IA) -- William Penn University Athletics Director Mike Laird has announced the hiring of Kristin Libby and Rachael Pointer as the new spirit squad coaching staff.

Libby will serve as head coach and Pointer will be her assistant as Penn goes in a new direction with its competitive dance and cheerleading programs. The sports will work closely together as the pair recruits both programs.

"I am extremely pleased that we were able to hire individuals with such extensive backgrounds," Laird said. "Both appear to be a great match for William Penn University."

The pair met while at Southeast Missouri State where Libby graduated with a bachelor of general studies degree (emphasis in physical education) and Pointer completed a bachelor of science degree in nursing. Both degrees were earned in 2003. Libby and Pointer also have extended education with Libby to earn her master's of education degree in athletic and activity administration from William Woods (Mo.) this May. Pointer's furthering education is also in progress as she works on her PhD in nursing with an emphasis in exercise physiology at Missouri.

As impressive as their academic profile is, the work that the pair have done in the spirit squad realm is also astounding. Libby was a cheerleading coach at Brookfield High School in Brookfield, Mo., in 2004. She is currently working in several other areas, most notably as a state director on the National Council on Spirit Safety and Education (NCSSE), serving the states of Iowa and Missouri. As a state director, Libby is responsible for instructing safety training programs for both cheerleading and dance coaches. She also instructs all safety certification courses for high school and colleges coaches. Libby has a master level certification.

Libby is also a national director, camp instructor, and judge for Cheer Ltd., Inc., a company out of Fayetteville, N.C. For Cheer Ltd., she instructs and choreographs material to be used during the summer camp session and also judges numerous regional competitions as well as the national event.

A four-year varsity member of the co-ed cheerleading squad with two years at Southeast Missouri State and two years at Missouri Western State, Libby has a very extensive judging background. She is a safety and technical judge for Cheerleaders of America and a nationals judge for Cheersport. Libby also serves as a regional director for United Peforming Association. She resides in Ottumwa.

"This is a great opportunity for me as a coach," Libby said. "This should be a very exciting endeavor. I expect it to be a lot of work but for it to also be a great experience that I will definitely enjoy."

Pointer, a current Missouri cheerleader while earning her PhD at the university, was the head varsity cheer coach at Southeast Missouri State from 2004-2005. She is a member of the National Cheerleading Spirit Safety Association while being a state of Missouri cheer and dance judge for Cheerleaders of America and Cheer Limited.

As a cheerleader at Southeast Missouri State, Pointer was named Most Valuable Cheerleader and appointed Squad Captain. Pointer also resides in Ottumwa.

"I am very pleased to have the chance to work with Kristin at William Penn," Pointer said. "I am very excited to be a part of William Penn and its spirit squad programs."

Libby and Pointer have begun preparations to meet with current squad members in the upcoming days and have also started recruiting for the 2006-2007 school year.

For more information please click on this link:  http://statesmen.wmpenn.edu/competitive_dance/index.php