Courtesy of Nebraska Wesleyan University Sports Information Department
LINCOLN, Neb. - Nebraska Wesleyan University's Athletics Director, Dwight Merilatt has announced the hiring of Rebecca Spataro as the second cheer and dance head coach in program history.
"I'm excited Becky will be joining us as our Head Coach for our Spirit Squads," Merilatt said. "Her knowledge and experience in coaching cheer and choreographing dance will truly enable us to be a premier program in the American Rivers Conference."
Spataro takes over the cheer and dance program after Terry Lange led it for the previous 21 years. Spataro formerly served as the head cheerleading coach at Lincoln Southwest High School. From 2015 to 2019, Spataro oversaw weekly cheerleading practices and competitions while also fundraising for the program to improve the student-athlete experience.
"With the leadership of our Athletic Director Dwight Merilatt and his vision, I am excited to begin working with the Nebraska Wesleyan Spirit Squad," Spataro said. "I cannot wait to see the impact this group of athletes will make not only on campus and at games, but within the community as well. The cheerleaders and dance team play an important role in school spirit, maintaining positive energy and keeping the school atmosphere a fun and exciting place."
Prior to working at Lincoln Southwest High School, Spataro spent eight years coaching cheer and tumbling at the Nebraska Cheer Center and Club Kicks. She coached all team competitions and gave athletes leadership and instruction on optimal form and skill improvement.
Spataro has experience working one on one with athletes at THE BRIGATA, a fitness center in Lincoln, Nebraska, and been a cheerleading and dance judge at the NAIA and high school level.
"My plan for Nebraska Wesleyan is to build a legacy all Prairie Wolves can be proud of and I plan on doing that with my experience of 16 years of coaching and over a decade of judging in multiple conferences around the Midwest, one of them being the American Rivers Conference," Spataro said. "I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to what lies ahead."
In 2011, Spataro graduated with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and then went on to Arizona State University, where she is currently working towards her master's degree in Organizational Leadership.
