St. Ambrose University is the only school to have both their cheer and dance teams win back-to-back NAIA national championships, but this year brings change and new opportunities: new head coaches for both programs. 

Laurel Ritter has been with the SAU dance program since 2010. After receiving her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, she became a licensed school-based counselor. Her background and love for the sport has motivated her to lead the reigning national champions. 

“My favorite thing is that I get to use my therapy background almost every practice with my athletes because they are stressed, tired, or they have exams or they have families or athletes on top of everything else that they are doing,” says Ritter. “I implement those therapeutic attributes that I bring to my other position into the head coach position.”

From 2015-2019, Alex Newenham competed all four years at St. Ambrose as a cheerleader. She has been a part of the coaching staff ever since. Having previous experience as a graduate assistant and spirit squad coordinator, she was a perfect fit for the head coach position. 

“It’s a huge blessing to be in this new role,” says Newenham. “I’ve been with the program for five years now. Before taking on this role, I was alongside Danelle who was the previous head coach and she really helped me pave the way to where I’m at now.”

Will Smith is a fifth-year student-athlete and captain of the cheer team. He has been coached by Newenham his entire college career and believes “she knows our culture already, so she puts us in the right direction to put us where we need to be this year.”

The spirit squads will celebrate their back-to-back national championship at their ring ceremony on October 25th.