By: Leslee DeRossett
Spring Arbor University students coming back to the 2020 fall semester have seen many changes. This is also true for the SAU competitive cheer team. In August, SAU named Jessica Dowling as its new head coach of the competitive cheer program.
Cheer is not new to Dowling, between four years as a member of her high school varsity competitive cheer and sideline cheer teams and eight years as the Addison Community Schools middle school competitive cheerleading coach, the middle school sideline cheerleading coach, as well as the varsity competitive assistant coach. She guided her team to five straight Cascades championships, along with three consecutive undefeated seasons.
Dowling may be new to the SAU competitive cheer team, but she is not new to SAU. When Dowling is not working with her competitive cheer team, she is teaching as a professor in the SAU School of Education.
Dowling said, “The number one thing I enjoy the most coaching for SAU is working with my athletes and building a tight-knit team. The girls are amazing and all so unique in the best way! We are a perfect mix and have formed a great bond already.”
The SAU competitive cheer team is new as of last year.
“Another thing I enjoy about coaching cheer at SAU is building a foundation for years to come. I have really enjoyed working to build a program which strives in character and is centered in faith. We are eager for a safe return for big crowds as we have some big ideas for community involvement at SAU.”
Jessica Dowling
