Bethel Cheer and Dance prepared to meet high expectations
Cheer coach Joseph Gogus spoke on behalf of both teams at KCAC Media Day.
The Competitive Cheer and Dance Virtual Media Day was held on Wednesday as the coaches around the KCAC talked about the upcoming season and how they project it to go for their respective squads.
“I'm excited to have as many teams competing as there are,” said Bethel head cheer coach Joseph Gogus. “It's exciting. Cheer and dance are both growing in the conference and it's amazing. We’re showing that our conference is a real competitive conference with all these coaches.”
Gogus is confident in his team — which took home the KCAC title in 2020-2021 and finished as the conference runner-up in 2021-2022 — due to team members from last year returning and gaining some new additions.
The seasoned veteran to lead the way is former all-KCAC junior Michayla Contreras. Newcomers include Tulsa Community College transfer Alaijah Stokes and Wichita State transfer Kaylon Hamilton.
“We have everyone on the floor from last year,” he said. “We have 10 people returning and will be competing 16 this year, which includes two [NCAA Division 1] transfers and the goal is to have our whole team tumbling while we’re almost there.”
The team’s goal is to push closer and closer to another conference championship.
On the dance side, the Threshers are also confident after a runner-up finish at the KCAC championships last season. Bethel head coach Kiley McCord was absent during the Zoom conference, so Gogus spoke in her place.
“They finished runner-up this year, and they’re the largest they've ever been,” Gogus said. “They have 12 but they may not compete with all 12. It was really cool to see the team double in size from six to 12 dancers and be able to do things that they haven't done in the past with many more opportunities.”
Returners include juniors Hannah Harris and Meya Green and sophomore Emma Grimsley. Both teams have a purpose to fight for this year and are confident that their goals can become accomplished.
On the cheer side, the Threshers were tied for first with Friends in the preseason media poll and second in the coaches poll. On the dance side, they were ranked second, tied with York in the media poll, and alone in second in the coaches poll. These are confident pulls for both teams as they look to compete hard this year.