August 20, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.
Weaver returns
Longtime coach has come back to lead the Jay County cheerleaders after a six-year hiatus
Weaver returns
Mindy Weaver coached Jay County High School cheerleading for 35 years.
She was a mainstay on Patriot sidelines, singing along with the fight song, performing the motions in unison with her cheerleaders.
Since retiring, both from coaching and teaching, in 2014, she’s mostly stayed away from the games.
It’s something her husband, WPGW’s voice of the Patriots Rob Weaver, has brought up a time or two. He’d like to see her there more often.
Beginning Friday, he’ll get his wish.
When the JCHS cheerleaders hit the sidelines for the season-opening football game at Norwell, Mindy Weaver will be leading them.
“I‘ve always enjoyed working with high school kids,” she said. “When this job became open this summer — Rob’s always bugging me about why I don’t go to more games — I thought, you know, why not do it again.”
Then Mindy Brown, Weaver started her career with Jay School Corporation teaching math at East Jay Junior High in 1977. She would soon shift to physics at Jay County High School, and in 1979 she took over the cheerleading program.
Over the course of her 35 years in coaching, she led the Patriots to seven Indiana State Fair championships. The final two of those came in a three-year span, with victories in 2010 and ’12.
She also took them to the Universal Cheerleaders Association National High School Cheerleading Championship twice.
She’s coached hundreds of Jay County girls over the years, with dozens of those returning for a celebration of her career during a basketball game in what was then expected to be her final season. Now, two of them are by her side.
Kristi (Strausburg) Pryor, a 1986 graduate who is also in her first year as the JCHS athletics secretary, and 2003 graduate Lindsey (Jenney) Peterson, serving as assistant coaches.
“That’s been great,” said Weaver. “I was interested in them because they were interested in coaching, but we’ve really clicked. They jump in and help … We work really well together.”
They’re leading a smaller group of Patriot cheerleaders — 13 — than usual.
Only six — Mattie Ardizzone, Sidney Campbell, Mariana Lopez, Kaden Norris, Kenzie Ring and Lilly Rodgers — are returning from last year’s squad. They’re being joined by four freshmen — Mady Fraley, Cash Hollowell, Karci Hopkins and Erin Ring — and three upperclassman — Chalista Conn, Maddy Rinker and Maddison Wenk — who are cheering for the Patriot squad for the first time.
“I feel privileged to have her help us and coach us,” said Ardizzone in reference to Weaver’s state fair titles. “It’s been really fun. They’ve had a really positive practice and made everything really fun.”
“She helps us with our motions a lot,” added Kenzie Ring, whose older sister Kylie cheered for Weaver. “They’re a lot tighter than they used to be.”
That focus on detail is a Weaver staple.
During her three and a half decades as the Patriots’ coach, her squads were known for their precision. She’d rather sacrifice a little bit of difficulty to make sure each motion, each chant, each jump, each stunt was as close to perfect as it could be.
“She wants perfection,” said Pryor. “She keeps working and working so we can get to that point.”
Both her cheerleaders and fellow coaches agree Weaver relates well to her athletes.
“She has a calm presence,” said Peterson. “So, I think, even when she’s giving criticism, it’s in a calm manner.”
The comeback isn’t because Weaver has been bored. Though retired, she’s stayed more than busy, including as a substitute teacher.
She’s president of Jay County Humane Society and a member of the board of directors for Arts Place, serving as one of the lead fundraisers for the capital campaign that will result in a renovation and expansion in the coming months. She’s an active member of Portland Lion’s Club.
Weaver is also a bit of a fitness nut — she was hiking in Virginia when she got the call letting her know that she had been chosen as to coach — regularly taking part in 5K races (or longer) with her nieces, nephews and friends. And, she’s stayed involved in cheerleading as a judge for contests.
She said she’s not yet decided if her cheerleaders will compete this year — the Indiana Cheer Championship will be held in a virtual format — but she’s looking forward to helping them share their energy to the Patriot fans.
“They have a lot of enthusiasm,” said Weaver. “It’s refreshing. …
“That’s a good thing. I don’t want to lose that or change that.”
She was a mainstay on Patriot sidelines, singing along with the fight song, performing the motions in unison with her cheerleaders.
Since retiring, both from coaching and teaching, in 2014, she’s mostly stayed away from the games.
It’s something her husband, WPGW’s voice of the Patriots Rob Weaver, has brought up a time or two. He’d like to see her there more often.
Beginning Friday, he’ll get his wish.
When the JCHS cheerleaders hit the sidelines for the season-opening football game at Norwell, Mindy Weaver will be leading them.
“I‘ve always enjoyed working with high school kids,” she said. “When this job became open this summer — Rob’s always bugging me about why I don’t go to more games — I thought, you know, why not do it again.”
Then Mindy Brown, Weaver started her career with Jay School Corporation teaching math at East Jay Junior High in 1977. She would soon shift to physics at Jay County High School, and in 1979 she took over the cheerleading program.
Over the course of her 35 years in coaching, she led the Patriots to seven Indiana State Fair championships. The final two of those came in a three-year span, with victories in 2010 and ’12.
She also took them to the Universal Cheerleaders Association National High School Cheerleading Championship twice.
She’s coached hundreds of Jay County girls over the years, with dozens of those returning for a celebration of her career during a basketball game in what was then expected to be her final season. Now, two of them are by her side.
Kristi (Strausburg) Pryor, a 1986 graduate who is also in her first year as the JCHS athletics secretary, and 2003 graduate Lindsey (Jenney) Peterson, serving as assistant coaches.
“That’s been great,” said Weaver. “I was interested in them because they were interested in coaching, but we’ve really clicked. They jump in and help … We work really well together.”
They’re leading a smaller group of Patriot cheerleaders — 13 — than usual.
Only six — Mattie Ardizzone, Sidney Campbell, Mariana Lopez, Kaden Norris, Kenzie Ring and Lilly Rodgers — are returning from last year’s squad. They’re being joined by four freshmen — Mady Fraley, Cash Hollowell, Karci Hopkins and Erin Ring — and three upperclassman — Chalista Conn, Maddy Rinker and Maddison Wenk — who are cheering for the Patriot squad for the first time.
“I feel privileged to have her help us and coach us,” said Ardizzone in reference to Weaver’s state fair titles. “It’s been really fun. They’ve had a really positive practice and made everything really fun.”
“She helps us with our motions a lot,” added Kenzie Ring, whose older sister Kylie cheered for Weaver. “They’re a lot tighter than they used to be.”
That focus on detail is a Weaver staple.
During her three and a half decades as the Patriots’ coach, her squads were known for their precision. She’d rather sacrifice a little bit of difficulty to make sure each motion, each chant, each jump, each stunt was as close to perfect as it could be.
“She wants perfection,” said Pryor. “She keeps working and working so we can get to that point.”
Both her cheerleaders and fellow coaches agree Weaver relates well to her athletes.
“She has a calm presence,” said Peterson. “So, I think, even when she’s giving criticism, it’s in a calm manner.”
The comeback isn’t because Weaver has been bored. Though retired, she’s stayed more than busy, including as a substitute teacher.
She’s president of Jay County Humane Society and a member of the board of directors for Arts Place, serving as one of the lead fundraisers for the capital campaign that will result in a renovation and expansion in the coming months. She’s an active member of Portland Lion’s Club.
Weaver is also a bit of a fitness nut — she was hiking in Virginia when she got the call letting her know that she had been chosen as to coach — regularly taking part in 5K races (or longer) with her nieces, nephews and friends. And, she’s stayed involved in cheerleading as a judge for contests.
She said she’s not yet decided if her cheerleaders will compete this year — the Indiana Cheer Championship will be held in a virtual format — but she’s looking forward to helping them share their energy to the Patriot fans.
“They have a lot of enthusiasm,” said Weaver. “It’s refreshing. …
“That’s a good thing. I don’t want to lose that or change that.”
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