REDDING, Calif. - Simpson University Director of Athletics, Dan Tating announced this week the addition of the university's 19th varsity sport, competitive cheer.

Competitive cheer will be a co-ed sport and begin competition in the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) in the 2022-2023 academic year.

"This is a big addition for our department and our university," Tating says, "We have wanted to continue the growth of Athletics, and competitive cheer is the perfect way to do that."

The addition of competitive cheer marks the fifth new sport at Simpson in four years marking consistent growth for the athletic department that has added approximately 100 student-athletes in the same time span.

Simpson U also is announcing the hiring of the cheer program's inaugural head coach, Erica Gismegian.

Gismegian brings great experience to the competitive cheer squad after being a cheerleader herself at Lindenwood University and coaching cheerleading for the past 15 years. Most recently, she helped lead a team to ten championships in four months.

"Working for Simpson University is a magnificent honor. I have been fully supported and championed with such enthusiasm," Gismegian says. "My desire is for our cheer team to exemplify so much school spirit that every athlete and student feels supported, uplifted, championed, seen, and known."

Gismegian will begin her duties immediately and will search for future Red Hawk cheerleaders.