K-State's 2006-2007 cheerleaders ready for national spotlight

Media Relations and Marketing
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-0117
Phone: 785-532-6415
Fax: 785-532-6418

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Al Enlow, 785-532-7983, aenlow@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-6415, bbohn@k-state.edu

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

K-STATE'S 2006-2007 CHEERLEADERS READY FOR NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

MANHATTAN -- It's a job worth cheering about -- and Kansas State University's 2006-2007 cheerleaders are getting ready to show why.

Along with preparing for their performances at upcoming athletic events and other activities, the K-State cheerleaders will be getting some added attention this year.

American Cheerleader, a magazine devoted to all things cheerleading, will be featuring the K-State squad and some of its members in upcoming editions, according to Al Enlow, K-State cheerleading and mascot coach.

"The K-State cheerleaders will be featured on the magazine's spotlight page during the next year, and four of our cheerleaders will appear in the magazine's fitness section as well," Enlow said.

One reason why the cheerleaders earned the national exposure is with their two top 10 finishes at national competitions this year, Enlow said. K-State finished eighth at the Universal Cheerleaders Association's all-girls nationals in January, and earned a seventh-place finish at the National Cheerleaders Association's co-ed nationals in April.

Tryouts for the 2006-2007 cheerleading squad were in late April.

"K-State cheerleaders are selected not only for physical fitness, gymnastics skills, flexibility, stunting and motions and dance, but for their ability to present a collegiate image and be effective ambassadors for K-State," Enlow said. "The cheerleaders and K-State's mascot, Willie the Wildcat, will make a combined 350-plus appearances this school year, not including their performances at university athletic events."

Cheerleaders selected to be featured in an upcoming fitness section of American cheerleader are Kendall Lange, senior in public relations, and Ashley Smith, a sophomore in business administration who will demonstrate the exercises, both of Overland Park; Leah Norton, sophomore in pre-journalism and mass communications, Salina; and Shawn Fisher, senior in clinical laboratory science-medical technology, Wichita, who was a member of the 2005-2006 cheerleading squad.

Also selected as K-State cheerleaders for 2006-2007 are:

Tanner Littrell, junior in kinesiology, Arkansas City; Dusty Allen, senior in life sciences, Centralia; Ryan Pickett, sophomore in social science, Council Grove.

Mitch Binns, junior in construction science and management, Derby; Adam Johnson, senior in horticulture, Elsmore; Van Tran, senior in electronic journalism, Garden City.

From Greater Kansas City: Tia Wesson, junior in pre-nursing, Kansas City, Mo.; Holly Thomas, junior in secondary education, Leawood; Stefan Arnsten, junior in management, Alex Baker, freshman in pre-psychology, Kayley Otto, freshman in business administration, and Brianna Willard, freshman in elementary education, all of Olathe; Kelli Lair, sophomore in secondary education, Ila Marshall, freshman in pre-health professions program, and Jen Mayekawa, junior in Spanish, all of Overland Park.

Jennifer Walther, senior in elementary education, Hiawatha; Josh King, senior in computer science, Holton; Steve Burch, freshman in business administration, and Ramone Lowe, freshman in pre-veterinary medicine, both of Junction City; Molly Hoss, senior in biology, Lecompton; Aaron Knight, senior in Spanish, Lyons; Zac Hilliker, freshman in secondary education, and Jeff Simser, freshman in computer science, both of Manhattan; Holli Heidebrecht, freshman in biology, McPherson; Savanah Sporer, sophomore in human ecology, Oakley; Nicole Strecker, freshman in elementary education, Pratt; Paige Venturella, sophomore in animal sciences and industry, Riverton; Megan Buer, sophomore in arts and sciences-open option, Scandia; Matt Musselman, junior in hotel and restaurant management, Silver Lake; Emillie Galloway, freshman in elementary education, Wakarusa; Madison King, freshman in arts and sciences-open option, Wamego.

From Wichita: Jason Brungardt, junior in kinesiology; Brett Gibbens, senior in finance; Holly Marshall, freshman in pre-health professions program; and Drew Mead, freshman in architectural engineering.

From out-of-state:

Jodie Mayes, freshman in arts and sciences-open option, Fayetteville, Ark.; Sarah Fiore, freshman in arts and sciences-open option, Darien, Conn.

From Illinois: Kristin Nettleton, freshman in arts and sciences-open option, Fairview Heights; Hollian Montgomery, senior in pre-psychology, Moline; and Niki Guerra, freshman in arts and sciences-open option, and Bree Wichman, freshman in business administration, both of Orland Park.

Becky Brennan, freshman in animal sciences and industry, Smithville, Mo.

From Nebraska -- Carmen Richardson, freshman in pre-veterinary medicine, Bellevue; Brittany Cain, freshman in arts and sciences-open option, Omaha; and Alyse Glesmann, freshman in food and nutrition-exercise science, Papillion.

James Bowen, sophomore in dance, Dallas, Texas; and Ashley Glatz, sophomore in hotel and restaurant management, Salem, Wis.