FERRIS STATE ATHLETICS NAMES NEW CHEERLEADING COACH

Longtime Prep Coach Jenna Ruddell To Guide School's Cheerleading Program

Ruddell most recently has served as the varsity cheer team head coach at Chippewa Hills (Mich.) High School since 2001 and guided the Warriors to the state championship in the 2006 Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Girls Competitive Cheer State Finals. She will replace former head coach Tiffany Krajewski, who left the position last fall.

"We're extremely excited to welcome Jenna to the Bulldog family," Kirinovic said. "She brings with her a successful background and has already begun to implement some of the same strategies with our cheerleading program that she has used in the past to create excellence. I am anticipating the same results with our program as she leads it to new heights."

Along with Heather Prentice, Ruddell also currently works as the co-owner and operator of PR Cheer Tournaments, a company focusing on cheer competitions and tournaments. She holds membership in the Michigan Cheerleading Coaches Association (MCCA), Michigan Cheer Judges Association (MCJA), Michigan High School Coaches Association (MHSCA), National Federation Interscholastic Spirit Association (NFISA) and is an executive board member in the Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan (CCCAM).

"I'm excited to be a part of the Ferris State Athletics Department," said Ruddell. "There's great potential for this cheer program in terms of supporting and promoting the university, as well as the interscholastic activities.

"My experience and background will benefit the recruiting aspect of the cheer program and I hope to build a well-rounded, well-respected, athletic cheer team at Ferris State University," she added.

Ruddell, who also led Chippewa Hills to a fourth-place competitive cheer state finish in 2005, previously held the position of Cheer Team Coach at Central Michigan University from July to November 2002. Her prep background includes stints as the varsity cheer team head coach at both Alma (1996-99) and Boyne City (1993-95) High Schools. She began her coaching career during the 1990-91 school year as an assistant freshman cheer coach at her alma mater, Mount Pleasant High School. During her prep varsity head coaching career, Ruddell's teams have placed among the top 10 teams five times in the annual MCCA State Championship for Sideline Teams.

A native of Mount Pleasant, Ruddell is a registered MHSAA official and has served as a regional judge. She also has received judges training in both sideline and competitive cheer. As a member of the MCCA, Ruddell has formerly assumed roles as a fall clinic director, state championship co-director, scholarship committee member, at-large representative along with being a speaker at the organization's annual fall and spring conferences.

As a prepster, Ruddell was a member of MPHS' varsity cheerleading team from 1988-90 and helped guide the Oilers to a 10th-place state finish in 1989. She earned an associate's degree in business office information systems from Mid-Michigan Community College in Harrison, Mich. Presently, she resides in Lake Isabella, Mich., along with her husband, John, and children Baylee, Izak and Grant. Her husband is the assistant superintendent at Chippewa Hills.

Members of the Ferris State Cheerleading program support intercollegiate athletics & the university by leading cheers & raising the level of fan support for the school's athletics teams. In addition, the FSU Cheer Team serves as ambassadors of the university. Tryouts for the 2006-07 campaign will be held Saturday, Aug. 26, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please contact Coach Ruddell via phone (989-644-3157 or 989-621-7315) or email (Jennifer.ruddell@verizon.net) for additional information.