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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

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: Dani Ruoff, 785-532-7983, druoff@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Nellie Ryan, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008

K-STATE CHEERLEADERS, NEW CHEERLEADING COACH KEEP SPIRITS HIGH

MANHATTAN -- As Kansas State University's new head cheerleading coach, Dani Ruoff says she is enjoying learning all of K-State's traditions.

"I came from a school that didn't have a lot of tradition," Ruoff said. "It's definitely a college town here. The traditions have not been hard to learn; they've been fun to learn. The campus has been very friendly to me. It's a good feel here."

Ruoff has 14 years of experience as a collegiate cheerleading coach. She previously coached three years at Montana State University-Bozeman. She also was a cheerleader and then a cheerleader coach at Montana State University-Billings. She has been cheering since she was in the seventh grade.

Ruoff has many goals for the future of the K-State cheer squad, including increasing the amount of male cheerleaders on the squad, raising the squad's grade point average and helping the squad become more active in the community.

"My favorite part about being a cheerleading coach is building confidence in people and preparing them for their future," Ruoff said. "What we do on the sidelines -- the stunts, the cheers, the dances -- that's very little of what we actually do. I like to try and teach them something about life after college, how to be a better person and how to help somebody else."

Along with games and events during the week, members of K-State's cheer squad practice three nights a week and take part in various scheduled workouts and study tables.

K-State's 2008-09 cheerleaders are:

Vincent Garver, junior in management, Abilene; Nick Burrowes, freshman in apparel and textiles, Fort Riley.

From Greater Kansas City: Kristin Campbell, freshman in arts and sciences-open option, Lenexa; Kelsey Fechter, sophomore in life sciences and pre-nursing, Jen Mayekawa, senior in Spanish, and Ashley Smith, senior in marketing, all of Overland Park; and Amanda Scott, freshman in art, Roeland Park.

Sarah Mullins, freshman in arts and sciences-open option, Hutchinson; Ramone Lowe, sophomore in animal sciences and industry, Junction City; Tharen Sparke, freshman in elementary education, Manhattan; Nicole Strecker, junior in elementary education, Pratt; Michelle Fontes, freshman in sociology, Salina.

From Wichita: Jennifer Agwu, freshman in pre-professional business administration; Kayla Chrisman, sophomore in public relations; Jessica Orth, sophomore in arts and sciences-open option; Jazzy Walker, freshman in pre-psychology; and Amber Young, sophomore in elementary education.

From out of state:

Jodie Mayes, junior in marketing, Fayetteville, Ark.; Sarah Fiore, sophomore in arts and sciences-open option, Darien, Conn.; Dominika Guerra, junior in hotel and restaurant management, Orland Park, Ill.; Lauren Dreesen, freshman in kinesiology, Chanhassen, Minn.; Becky Brennan, junior in animal sciences and industry, Smithville, Mo.

From Nebraska: Carmen Richardson, junior in agribusiness, Bellevue; Brittany Cain, sophomore in psychology, Omaha; and Lauren Alyse Glesmann, junior in hotel and restaurant management, Papillion.

Michael Kearns, freshman in sociology, Fargo, N.D.; Jackie Capite, freshman in pre-psychology, Jenks, Okla.

From Texas: Stephanie Bowles, freshman in arts and sciences-open option, Keller; and Brittany Loppatto, sophomore in social sciences, Plano.