NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Head Cheer Coach at Bethel College, Ciara Schott is excited and determined to relaunch and rebrand the Thresher Cheer program.
“I am looking for athletes who are strong-willed, who are wanting to be a part of something great and have the ability to give everything to the program and to their academics as well,” Schott said.
Schott is from the St. Louis, Missouri area and moved to Kansas in the summer of 2025. She started at Bethel late July.
When Schott took over the cheer program it was very small (less than ten cheerleaders). Schott is looking to add about 10-15 more athletes to the roster.
“This season, we have focused mainly on sideline cheerleading for basketball and football games,” Schott said. “But we are looking to get back into competing in the KCAC next season as well as the possibility of competing at Daytona Nationals at NCA (National Cheerleaders Association).”
Schott has been in the cheerleading world for over 20 years. For five years she coached at another institution in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and also coached All-Star Cheerleading (levels 1-4).
“I’m a tumbling coach as well, and then I’ve also coached rec cheerleading and middle school cheerleading,” Schott added.
All cheerleaders at Bethel College receive a scholarship offer, which is stacked with an academic offer. The student-athlete’s GPA will determine their academic award, but for cheerleading they get a separate offer that they can stack.
“They can also use outside scholarships and grants to increase their aid to the university,” Schott said.
Athletes who are interested in joining the Bethel College Cheer program can reach out to Ciara Schott at [email protected] or on social media (Instagram, Facebook, and X).
Listen to Ad Astra Radio’s interview with Bethel College Head Cheer Coach here.
