By Jordan Favors | Over the last two semesters the Howard Payne Cheerleading team has been revolutionized due to the efforts of their new coach, Kaity Wade.
Coach Wade was a full-time gymnast by the age of seven and was practicing over 20 hours a week until the age of 12. It was then she transitioned to the SEAL gym in Early and started All-Star cheer at the age of 13.
“I was very against it at first. Then, I came to one of their practices, and I was blown away by the stunts and the jumps and everything. I didn’t know a lot about cheer by that point,” said Wade.
As a Level 5 cheerleader, Wade graduated high school and cheered at Tarleton State University on their co-ed cheer team. As a collegiate athlete, she placed second with her team on the mat at the Daytona competition in the Gameday category.
Wade went on to be an instructor for the National Cheerleading Association (NCA), and she is in her fourth year as the Head Program Director of SEAL Cheerzone, the gym she is taking over with her new husband, Tim Wade.
Since October of 2020, Coach Wade has served as the HPU Cheer coach. Her favorite part about her position is teaching her athletes more and more everyday, and seeing them grow.
“I’ve always wanted to be a college coach. Obviously, I didn’t know that it was going to happen this soon, so I’m blessed that that happened. I have a vision of what I want my program to be and what I know it can be. I’m proud of my athletes for knowing what it takes to get to that point and not being scared to go out, ask questions, and work hard during practice,” said Wade.
Wade has made numerous changes to the HPU Cheer program including changing the cheerleaders’ physical appearance at games, changing the way they workout and practice, and even implementing new traditions.
“When I first came in, I was really timid. I didn’t want to just come in and start changing everything. I saw the program, and I knew what vision I had for the program that I wanted to build. I saw what I was working with and I tried to go slow, but I basically changed everything all the way down to the fight song,” said Wade.
Mildreth Rodriguez, Senior Captain of the HPU Cheer team, appreciates the strong leadership of Coach Wade.
“She pushes us out of our comfort zones, and we all end up being better because of it. She sees the team as just as capable as any D1 team even when we don’t see it ourselves,” said Rodriguez.
When asked about her long term goals for the Cheer program, Wade responded that she wants the team to be the reason students come to Howard Payne.
“One of my goals for this program is to be competing on the NCA Gameday stage which I know I have some growth and consistency to build before then, but I think within four to five years we’ll definitely be there. I see the program being built of between 20 and 24 athletes, and I want us to be co-ed again,” said Wade.
In late October of this year, the HPU Cheer team will be competing at the NCA Spirit Rally virtually.
“I’m glad that we get to get our feet wet and see the goals we’re reaching towards,” said Wade.