A few months ago, the Apollo competitive cheer team was without a coach, leading some to believe they might not even be able to compete this season. Enter new head coach Ashley Thomas. Joining the team a few weeks before Fall Break, Thomas helped them build a routine from scratch, and they executed it to perfection at the recent Universal Cheer Association Hoosier Regional in Fisher Indiana.
“I made some changes to the routine to make sure it was as high-caliber as it needed to be,” Thomas said. “Everyone also made tweaks to the routine, so it really is a team effort.”
Competing in the Small Varsity Coed Game Day division, Apollo finished at the top of the scoreboard, edging out second-place Carmel High School by three points and advancing to the UCA Nationals in Orlando in February.
“We did excellent and had been working really hard,” Thomas said. “They made some changes from the KHSAA Region and executed the routine flawlessly. All I ever want from my athletes is for them to perform their best and leave everything on the mat, to leave every hour of hard work and every dedicated moment so there are no regrets when they leave the mat. That is what I tell them every performance.”
Earlier in the month, Apollo finished third at the KHSAA Region 2 Game Day Small division, advancing to the KHSAA State Championship in December. Moving forward, Thomas said her team will continue to put in hard work, and after the state competition they will look at the rubric and make any necessary changes.
Since arriving as head coach, Thomas has instilled in her team the motto “one team, one heart” — echoing that her athletes can meet their challenges and that success stems from putting in the hard work to do so. Thomas prides herself in how her team has shattered every challenge in front of them, overcoming the threat of a potentially canceled season and then later persevering to put together a routine when many teams had already completed theirs.
Thomas also credited her assistant coaches Nancy Schmeal and Sarah Whiese, who both are from the previous regime, for the team’s success.
“We wouldn’t be here without my assistant coaches,” Thomas said. “Every coach and player have a role that they play and matches everyone’s energy. My coaches support me 100%.”
The teams set lofty goals from the beginning and Thomas wants to prove that the bond between her athletes is special.
“It goes beyond just cheer and school because in life you will have obstacles to overcome,” Thomas said. “We are just getting started with the competition season. The kids have put in the work and are a great group. They deserve this season, and we have all rallied around them. The support we have received has made this possible.”
