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The Icing on the Cake

March 22, 2018

Just a year ago, ASU cheer coach Kaylee Feece stepped foot on campus for the first time.

Kaylee Feece Kaylee Feece “Before I interviewed, I honestly didn’t know where Angelo State was,” she said. “I’ve been to Texas plenty of times, just never to San Angelo.”

A native of Michigan and former Michigan State cheerleader, Feece is ASU’s first full-time cheer coach and has immediately exceeded expectations. Just shy of her one-year work anniversary in April, she led the ASU Cheer Team to its first-ever national championship at the USA College Championships in Anaheim, Calif.

“Competing is kind of the icing on the cake for cheerleaders,” she said. “They’re supporting other athletes all year, so competing gives them their time to shine – something for them to work for.”

And work for it they did. The team practiced relentlessly, coming back a week early from Christmas Break for three-a-day workouts. Once school was back in session, practices were held every weekday until they left for competition.

It all paid off when ASU beat out larger universities for the title. Because cheer divisions are based on the number of men on a co-ed team, ASU participated in the large co-ed division, which included schools like Arizona State, Idaho State and Boise State.

The 2018 Angelo State Cheer Team with their national championship trophy in Anaheim, Calif. The 2018 Angelo State Cheer Team with their national championship trophy in Anaheim, Calif.

“It was so satisfying because, being my first year, the expectation wasn’t to go out there and win,” Feece said. “The expectation was to go out there, perform well, and use it as a learning experience. I told the team, clean always wins. It always looks better when you’re clean no matter how many people you have.”

“I’m hoping that we will be back at nationals next year. As long as everything falls into place, we’d love to come home with another National Championship.”

“I’m hoping that we will be back at nationals next year. As long as everything falls into place, we’d love to come home with another National Championship.”

Kaylee Feece

Team leadership was also provided by senior Megan Espinosa and junior Quint Stone, two upperclassmen on a team of mostly freshman.

“I know I pushed the team more than anything,” Espinosa said. “To be like, ‘Guys, this is what I’m working for. I hope y’all are wanting the same thing.’ Seeing all of them work and put all the effort to make it happen – I’m really appreciative.”

“The way we started the beginning of the season and the way we ended it at competition was a complete 180,” Stone added. “We were all working out three times a day together, and that definitely bonds you. Putting in the blood, sweat and tears during practice, that’s what really builds you together as a family.”

Espinosa and Stone also credit Feece for the team’s success.

“She put a motivation and drive to better ourselves, not only here but in the classroom,” Espinosa said. “To be on time, to do things the way they are supposed to be done the first time.”

“She said, ‘I’m here. I’m going to get stuff done. We are going to compete,’” Stone said. “We just weren’t used to that type of mentality. She stressed family.”



But none of them can sit back and relax. Tryouts for the new cheer season are less than a month away.

“I want to grow the program,” Feece said. “We only have 12 members right now. We’re small, considering we are a Division II school. The amount of recognition winning the title has given us is awesome because it’s making a lot of people interested in the program, which in turn works out for the university.”

The Cheer Team’s next goal? Back-to-back national titles.

“The pressure is definitely on to defend our title,” Stone said. “You never know what schools are going to be there, so it’s definitely a stressor. But we are very excited.”

“I’m hoping that we will be back at nationals next year,” Feece added. “As long as everything falls into place, we’d love to come home with another National Championship.”