Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Cheerleading
Cheerleading
Home of the Owls
501 Crescent St. New Haven, CT. 06515
Webmaster~Amy Lynn Colt Southbury, CT. 06488
Registered Feb 23, 2004
This page was last updated: October 22, 2008
SCSU Cheerleading
Welcome To The Official Southern Connecticut State University Cheerleading Website
Meet the Coaches
Southern Connecticut State University Cheerleading
All-Girl Div II
Head Coach Trish Lenda
Assistant Coaches Idris Boyer, Megan Palomba, and Cheryl Thomes
Trish Lenda: Trish is going into her 9th season coaching the SCSU Cheerleaders. She has been Head Coach since 2003. Coach Lenda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science/Human Performance from SCSU and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Community Counseling at the university. She is the Assistant Director of the University's Undergraduate Academic Advisement Center . Coach Lenda is a member, safety certified judge and coach through the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors. She has judged competitions locally, regionally and nationally.
She is a member of the nationally accredited American College of Sport’s Medicine, National Academic Advising Association, and Connecticut Counseling Association and was also selected three times as a recipient of the “Who’s Who Among American Teacher’s” award in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Prior to coaching at SCSU, Coach Lenda was the head cheer coach at North End Middle in Waterbury , CT from 1994-98.
Cheryl Thomes: Cheryl has been an assistant Cheer coach at SCSU from 1992-2005, 2007 and currently now in 2008-09. She was a consultant to the SCSU cheer program in 2006. She has been coaching cheerleading since 1979 at all levels from Pop Warner to Collegiate. Cheryl is a member of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors and was named 1994 Coach of the Year by the Olympian Club of Waterbury, CT in addition to being a "Who's who among high school coaches" in American Cheerleader magazine 1996. Cheryl was also named the honor of Who's who among US Cheerleading coaches in American Cheerleader magazine 2008. Cheryl is the founder and owner of the Cheerleading Training Center in Waterbury, CT, home of the USA Wildcats, who have won many national titles. Cheryl's senior Elite team were finalists in the 2006 World Cheerleading Championships. They also qualified and compete at the 2007 and 2008 World Championships. Coach Thomes is a consultant to many cheerleading squads across the state of CT. She is also USASF credentialed up to level 5 in all categories.
Trish Lenda:
Cheryl Thomes:
Idris K. Boyer: Idris K. Boyer has been involved with cheerleading for the past 10 years. He got his start as a senior on the first ever co-ed team at Crosby High School in Waterbury, CT. He then went on to cheer for the nationally ranked University of Connecticut Huskies. Competing in the small Co-ed division his team placed 3rd his sophomore year. At the University of Connecticut Idris majored in English. He has written many pieces of literature including plays, short stories, and poems of which one was published in a book titled “Sharing the Spirit”.
Idris is going into his 4th year as the assistant coach of the nationally ranked Southern Connecticut State University cheerleading team. He was a 6 year member and Head Instructor of the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA). Idris was named 2004 UCA Northeast Veteran Instructor of the Year. Idris was fortunate enough to be selected as an instructor and performer for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2005 and 2006. He is currently an instructor for the U.S. All Star Federation (USASF) and is certified to teach/coach and credential at all levels. Idris is also ACCAA Safety Tested and Certified, First Aid and CPR certified.
Idris has been involved in choreographing routines for the past 8 years. He has choreographed routines for many high schools, colleges and all-star teams in CT, MA, and NY. He has also been a judge for many state, regional, and national championships all over the country.
Idris is now a coach for the Spirit All-Stars out of Hamden Ct. He is trained in tumbling instruction as well as cheerleading. He is the assistant coach of the “National Champion” large senior team; Emeralds, head coach of the “National Champion” small senior team; Diamonds, and coach of the currently undefeated national champion co-ed open team; Onyx. He has led his teams to many national championships.
Idris K. Boyer:
“A coach is someone who always makes you do what you don’t want to do, so you can be what you’ve always wanted to be”
Megan Palomba: This is Megan’s 2nd year as an assistant coach with SCSU Cheerleading. Coach Palomba was a member of the Nationally ranked Holy Cross High School Cheer Team from 1997-1999. In addition to cheering at HCHS, she was also a member of the Nationally ranked USA Wildcats All Star Team from 1998-2000, and their Open team in ‘03. Megan was a student and cheerleader at Southern Connecticut State University from 2001-2005. She competed in the UCA All Girl “4” Stunt Competition where her group placed 2nd in ‘02, 3rd in ‘03, 4th in ‘04 and 4th in ‘05. Megan graduated from SCSU with a Double Baccalaureate in Elementary Education and Psychology. She is a 3rd grade teacher in Waterbury.
Megan Palomba:
Jerry Nelson: former director of events for USA Gymnastics and a prominent figure in area gymnastics for some 30 years, is a current gymnastics consultant for the SCSU Cheerleading program, in addition being named head women’s gymnastics coach at Southern Connecticut State University. Nelson served as an assistant coach in 2003-04 with SCSU Women's Gymnastics. A Southern graduate and member of the Owls’ 1973 NCAA Division II national championship men’s gymnastics team for Coach Abie Grossfeld. Nelson was the owner and coach at Nelson’s Gymnastics Centers in the Southern Connecticut area from 1974 through 1999, working with more than 15,000 young gymnasts through the years at five gym locations. He became director of events for USA Gymnastics in Indianapolis from 1999-2001 and directed all aspects of national and international televised events for the sport’s national governing organization. Upon returning to the area, the North Haven resident was general manager of the Connecticut Sportsplex in North Branford. He is the chairman of the Greater New Haven Convention and Visitors’ Bureau’s New Haven Sports Committee, designed to maximize resources and attract significant sporting events to New Haven.
Jerry Nelson:
If you have any concerns, comments or questions regarding SCSU Cheerleading,
Please e~mail Head Coach
