Misericordia University Cheerleading
301 Lake Street, Dallas, Pa 18612
About The Team
General Information - The Misericordia University cheerleading team is composed of 18 - 25 members. The cheerleading season begins in early September and continues until late March or early April. The team practices three to four times a week for 2  hours per night. They cheer at all home men’s basketball games and select away games.  In addition, the cheerleaders travel to all tournaments and playoff games with the men’s team. Cheerleaders also participate in homecoming events and community service events.
Tryouts - The program holds spring evaluations in late April or early May for all incoming freshmen, transfer students and/or current students who wish to join the team. Evaluations allow for individuals to get critiqued by the coaching staff so they know what to work on and expect during fall tryouts.  Those who score well during evaluations are given an invitation to UCA summer camp with the team.  Official tryouts take place in the September.  For more information on tryouts, please see the Tryout Page.
Academic Responsibilities - The coaching staff expects excellence in the classroom as well as on the sidelines and competition floor.  The team sets a goal annually to pursue academic excellence.  In the past four years the MU cheerleaders have produced at team GPA averaging 3.2+.  During the 09-10 season 11 members of the cheerleading program were recognized by the university for Excellence in Athletics and Academics.
Community Service - The coaching staff encourages the athletes to not only take an active role on campus, but in the community as well.  During the 09-10 season, MU cheerleaders organized the 2nd annual "Cougars for a Cure" and raised over $3,200 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  In the past two years over $4,700 was donated to St. Jude's by the Cougar cheerleaders. In the 07-08 season, MU helped high school senior cheerleaders at Lake-Lehman raise over $6,000 for Breast Cancer Research.  In the last four seasons, MU has participated in numerous other charity events including the Autism Awareness Walk, Luzerne County Down Syndrome Network's Buddy Walk, United Way fundraising and team-organized food drives. 
Competition - The team also competes several times a year.  In both the 08-09 season and the 09-10 season the Cougars were named all-girl division champions at Complete Cheer and Dance's Moai Madness Championship held at Temple University.  In 2008 the Cougars advanced to the finals and placed ninth at UCA's collegiate nationals where the team competed against Division II and III all-girl teams from across the United States.  In 2004 MU claimed a national title at COA's National Championship in Niagara Falls.  For more details on Misericordia's accomplishments, please see the Competition Results web page.
       2009 - 2010 Team Roster           
Seniors:
Tiffany Painter
Kristina Paddock
Danielle Furnari
Colleen Kuchar
Brittany McCauley
Katie Sokolas
Juniors:
Katie Lawlor
Stephanie May
Brianne Lavelle
Sophomores:
Jessica Pavlikowski
Denise Nerozzi
Jordan Marzani
Brittany Vetrini
Ann Neary
Krystle Novak
Audra Wehner
Freshmen:
Amber Schmidt
Erin Bomboy
Alyssa McEntee
Bethany Rutkowski
Coaching Staff

Tara Sinclair
Tara Coletti-Sinclair is a graduate of College Misericordia and she is a former Cougar cheerleader.  Tara currently teaches English at Pocono Mountain West Jr. High School. 

Tara began cheering when she was in Jr. High and continued through college.  She is a former instructor for Eastern Cheer and Dance Association, ECDA.  While working on ECA staff, Tara also served on curriculum staff where she choreographed summer material for the company.  Currently, Coach Sinclair is active in providing choreography for competitive teams.  She has choreographed routines for numerous nationally ranked All-Star programs and competitive high school teams.  She is also heavily involved with a local non-profit all-star cheerleading organization where she serves as a director and coach.

Coach Sinclair is well qualified to serve as Misericordia University's Head Cheerleading Coach.  She holds a master level certification from the NCSSE, the National Council for Spirit Safety and Education.  She is also certified by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators, AACCA, in cheerleading safety, as well as by the USASF in all levels of all-star cheerleading safety. Finally, Tara attends many conferences and workshops to develop her coaching techniques and update her safety certifications. 

Courtney Coletti
Danny Evans


- Tara Sinclair, Courtney Coletti and Danny Evans
This year the Cougar Cheerleaders are led by senior captain Brittany McCauley and junior captain Stephanie May.
Cougars for a Cure Event 2008-2009