Sioux Center, Iowa — Dordt University will offer competitive cheer as a varsity intercollegiate sport beginning in the 2021-22 academic year.
The program will be Dordt’s 19th competitive varsity team. The program will be affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).
Dordt University Director of Athletics Ross Douma has also announced Mel Knobloch will serve as the program’s coach. Knobloch will continue to serve as the dance programs coach.
“This was a natural add for Dordt,” said Douma. “We are fortunate to have someone of Mel’s caliber already on staff who is willing to meet this challenge. I look forward to watching her develop the athletes she recruits and coaches.”
Dordt will be the eighth GPAC institution to offer cheer. GPAC championship events for cheer and dance are held annually in February.
“I am excited for this opportunity to lead the cheer program and introduce cheer as a competitive sport at Dordt University. Not only will these athletes be enhancing the overall game-day environment at both football and basketball games, but they will have the opportunity to perform and compete against other schools in the GPAC and NAIA. Much goes into a competitive cheer, including stunting, tumbling, jumps, motions, and dance, and I am excited the Dordt community will both the game-day and the competitive side of cheer,” said Knobloch.
Knobloch intends to start the program with at least 10 athletes for the 2021-22 school year with a full roster of 20 athletes expected by 2023-24. Recruiting for the incoming class will begin immediately.
