Cheerleading
Our Program
Azusa Pacific University’s cheerleading program prides itself on a history of excellence and continues to build upon its past success. Setting our goals high and striving to keep God First, APU cheerleaders are women of achievement and character within their communities.
The program consists of two squads: a competition squad and a spirit squad. The Spirit Squad is an all-girls team, leading our home crowd in cheering on APU football and men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Azusa Pacific’s Competition Squad travels around the state and across the country, competing in the NCA Collegiate National competition and the USA College National competition, among others. This squad’s recent achievements include:
2006-07
- Fourth Place, NCA Nationals
- West Coast Champions, UCA
- Third Place, USA Nationals
- Fifth Place, NCA Nationals
- Second Place, USA Nationals
Program Goals
- Support Cougar athletic teams
- Encourage athletic fans and promote Cougar pride
- Facilitate spiritual, academic, and athletic success in each participant
- Represent with excellence both APU and Jesus Christ
Program Distinctives
- God First—always
- One of few four-year universities on the West Coast with a nationally competitive cheerleading program
- Oldest and most established cheerleading program in GSAC
- Scholarships available based on need and talent
- National competition opportunities
“I didn’t think that there was a school that combined cheerleading excellence with a Christian education, but there is—APU!”
Lyndsey Helin ’10
Our Schedule
The competition squad practices three to four times a week beginning the end of August. Practices during the school year are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., and Wednesdays, 2–5 p.m. This squad performs at home football games and some home basketball games. Mandatory cheer camp is held each summer at APU two to three weeks before classes start. Due to the time commitment involved with the Competition Squad, cheerleaders cannot participate in a music ensemble, theater production, or intramural sport.
The competition schedule for 2007-08 includes:
- January 26, 2008 – Cheer Jams at San Diego State University
- February 10-11, 2008 – USA Nationals in Las Vegas, NV
- March 1, 2008 – UCA West Coast Championship in Hollywood, CA
- April 10-11, 2008 – NCA Nationals in Daytona Beach, FL
The Spirit Squad practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1–3 p.m. during the school year. The Spirit Squad will be performing and leading the crowd at all home football and most men’s and women’s basketball games. There will be a short, two-day camp for this squad on August 23–24, 2008.
"This is the best all-girl, competitive squad at a Christian university in the nation. Outstanding coaching, passionate cheerleaders, and a compete program make this a top school to be considered for any cheerleader."
John Blake, Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders
About the Coach
Coach Colleen Kausrud is in her fourth year as Azusa Pacific University's cheerleading coach. She has an extensive background in the sport of competitive cheer and fitness training. Kausrud has been the West Coast representative for the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders (FCC) for the past four years, coaching and instructing at numerous camps and clinics. For four years, she was the competition coach at Western Christian High School in Covina, California, during which time the team won several championships. Kausrud is certified by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors (AACCA). She is president of the National Christian Fitness Association (NCFA) and is an American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified fitness and kickboxing instructor.
