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Cheer Hawks earn gold bid under new leadership

Colby Fisher
Staff Writer
colby.fisher@hawks.shorter.edu

The Cheer Hawks have had quite an eventful summer. With the hiring of a new head coach in addition to their receipt of a gold bid for the National Cheer Association College Nationals, this summer has been nothing short of successful for the growing team.

On July 27, 2016, Rome native Chad Reid was named the new head cheerleading coach. He brings both excitement and knowledge to the team, having previous experience serving as head coach at UNC-Chapel Hill, owning and operating Legacy Athletics in Rome, and leading his cheerleading teams to national championships time and time again.

“I am honored and humbled to be able to coach at Shorter,” said Coach Chad Reid. “I was born and raised here in Rome, so when the opportunity came available, I jumped at the chance.”

Members of the cheerleading team expressed enthusiasm for the new coach. “He is so amazing,” said senior nursing major and cheerleader Abby Patrick. “He has such a great vision for the cheer program, and there is no doubt that he can guide our team to a win.”

Patrick added that Reid has continued to push the team to work harder than ever and has been a constant encouragement to the squad to be the best athletes they can be even throughout this time of transition.

Reid has worked to live up to his expectations as head coach. On Aug. 14, 2016, the Cheer Hawks won a gold bid for the NCA College Nationals in Division 2 Small Coed Advanced. “This moment had an unexplainable feeling,” said sophomore nursing major and cheeleader Katelynn Robinson. “After a hard week of training, learning camp cheers, chants, and a rally routine, we had accomplished our goal.”

When asked how he felt when the cheerleading team was awarded the gold bid, Reid said that he was proud of what the team accomplished especially in the short time that they had to work and practice together, which was only one week. “I feel like no other group of athletes deserved it more,” said Reid. “I have never been around a full team of athletes that want the same goal, love the sport, and have the same drive as they do.”

Although the transition of the coaching staff was a change for the team, it brought them closer together. “Through all the challenges we faced, we were determined to represent Shorter and to build our team.”

The team is excited to add to their list of achievements. In their nine seasons of competition, they posses four national titles, and they are eager to bring home another national title in April 2017.

“We have a new coach, a new team, and the passion and heart for Shorter University is thriving,” said Robinson.

For Patrick, this is her nal season and she wants to end on a high note. “As a senior, it is bittersweet that this is my last time on the mat,” said Patrick. “I can’t wait to cheer on the Hawks one last time and to bring home a national championship in April!”