Robyn Craig - Owner/Director & Coach
My name is Robyn Craig and I have been a part of the cheerleading world for 22 years. I started as a cheerleader at St. Thomas in grade school and then at Garnet Valley from 7th-12th grade. My coaching career started in 1997 with the Junior Varsity team at Garnet Valley High School. I also spent 2 years as Head Coach of the Garnet Valley Middle School and then 11 more years as Head Coach at Garnet Valley High School, where I coached almost all of our Encore Staff. Our teams brought home many 1st place trophies as well as Grand Championships and 1st Place and Grand Camps at The American Open Nationals in Florida. I also successfully ran the Garnet Valley Cheer Challenge for 8 years managing up to 100 teams at the competition. I have cheerleading certifications with AACCA, NFHS, Judging, & CPR/ First Aid. Myself, the Encore Staff, and the Encore Elite Wildcatz program are all working on our USASF credentialing as well.
I took time off from coaching for a year to spend time with my daughter. Now that she is also a cheerleader, I am back to coaching again. Amanda and I started this unique program last season because we believe that you can be a part of All Star Cheerleading and still be a part of your School or Community programs. We also felt that All Star cheerleading should be something families can financially afford. It has grown beyond our expectations in just 1 year and we couldn't be more excited! We had an extremely successful 1st season with 5 teams that brought home many trophies, including 1st Place and Grand Champions.
When I'm not coaching I am an In-Home Detention Officer for Juveniles in Delaware County. I earned my Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice at Widener University. My most important job of course is being a full time Mom! She makes everyday worth it!
Amanda Cassidy - Owner/Director & Coach
Hi, my name is Amanda Cassidy, formally known as Amanda Murtaugh and I have been coaching cheerleading since 2001. I have spent most of my coaching career with Robyn Craig at Garnet Valley High School and I also coached at Brandywine Youth Club and All American Cheer Stars. I cheered for 10 years, and was the captain of the Varsity team my senior year at Garnet Valley High School. Robyn and I have been involved in cheerleading together for 10 years. She was my coach in middle school and also the last three years of my high school career, and then we coached together for six years. We are continuing to coach together by starting this program. All of our Encore Elite Wildcatz coaches are extremely talented and I'm proud to have the opportunity to work with them.
Besides Cheerleading I love spending time with my family!
Ingrid Welch - Coach
My name is Ingrid Welch and I have been coaching cheerleading since 1999. I have been a coach with Encore since its inception in 2011. Prior to Encore, I spent most of my coaching career with the Brandywine Youth Club (BYC) of Glen Mills, PA, a non-profit youth sports organization that provides over twelve sports programs year round for children ages 5 to 18. Over the course of fourteen years working with BYC, I have served as Director of the Competitive Cheerleading Program, Board Member, President and Chairman. I continue to serve as BYC’s Chairman. I got to know Robyn, Amanda and the rest of the Encore Elite staff while my daughter, Andie, was a cheerleader at Garnet Valley High School. Andie is currently a cheerleader at St. Joseph’s University and an Encore coach as well. I feel as though Encore is my second family. I enjoy working with all the Encore coaches because we share a passion for cheerleading and the benefits cheerleading offers athletes in the form of athletic development, individual dedication, personal confidence, teamwork, sportsmanship and friendship.
Safety is a priority at Encore. I am safety certified by the AACCA and have my USASF credentials through level 4.
When I am not coaching cheerleading, I am busy running a legal practice as the Managing Partner in Philadelphia of the law firm of Jaffe Rait Heuer & Weiss, P.C.
Nicole Lassik - Coach
My name is Nicole Lassik and I started my cheerleading journey at age 3. With last season being my last time cheering I have cheered a total of 17 years. During my cheerleading career, I was a 4 year Varsity Cheerleader at Garnet Valley High School and named Captain of the cheerleading squad my senior year. I helped the Encore gym owners build this cheerleading team and have coached with them since they opened in 2011. I have finally came to realize my cheering days are over. Therefore, I am so thankful that Encore Elite will have me as a cheerleading coach for the third season in a row to continue being involved in the cheer world! I am currently a USASF member and I have completed my credentialing as a coach for the next three years. I also teach private and semi-private tumbling lessons outside of cheer practice.
I am currently a senior nursing student at Widener University. I plan on graduating in May 2014 with my RN BSN degree. I am currently employed as a nursing assistant at Nemours DuPont Hospital for Children.
Colleen Biddle - Coach
I’ve been involved in cheerleading for so long that I actually wore saddle shoes, letter sweaters, and finger-tip length skirts. Oh how the world of cheerleading has changed! Some people say that cheerleading is in my blood. Little do they know…
When my daughter, Caitlyn, was just 4 years old, she became a mascot for the local recreational team. We immediately wanted more competition and skill, so we quickly moved on to the up & coming world of All-Star Cheerleading. At the same time that I was an All-Star cheer mom, I was also the Chichester High School cheerleading coach. Football & basketball games, competitions, practices, camp, and tumbling classes monopolized my life, but Cait and I loved the sport! For 10 years I double-teamed as a coach/cheer mom. It wasn’t until Caity cheered for both Garnet Valley High School and her All-Star team, that I decided it was time for ME to retire my poms. I felt as though I couldn’t adequately stretch myself for 3 different squads.
I jumped into the role as “team mom” right from the start. Throughout my GVHS experience I stepped in whenever and wherever I was needed. Robyn and Amanda were amazing HS coaches, and we became great friends. When they decided to venture into the All-Star scene, I came out of “retirement” and resurfaced as an Encore Elite Tiny cheer coach!
I’m so thankful to have been part of such an incredible organization right from the very start! Even though we were all a little nervous about our first year of the program, we started off with a “BANG”, and we have our entire cheer family to thank for that! We couldn’t have embarked on such an unbelievable experience without the help of our dedicated coaches, committed cheerleaders, and devoted parents. Thank you all for allowing me to become part of your lives! I look forward to several more successful Encore Elite years!
Erin McGlynn - Coach
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My name is Erin McGlynn and this will be my 3rd year coaching with the Encore staff. In the past, I began my cheerleading career with the BYC Bulldogs as a mascot in 1993. I cheered with BYC until I was in 6th grade when I started my all-star cheerleading experience with the All American CheerStars. I cheered on their junior team for two years and helped coach the Tiny squad. In high school, I was a four year Varsity cheerleader at Garnet Valley High School under the supervision of Robyn Craig and Amanda Cassidy. My senior year I was promoted as a captain of the squad. The past two seasons I've cheered on the Encore open team, although I retired my sneakers for this season. I have my coaching credentials by the USASF board members from levels 1-3. I am extremely excited for this upcoming season coaching and working with our Encore cheerleaders!
Currently, I am attending graduate school at West Chester University for my masters in Literacy in Education. I am a substitute teacher for the local Delaware County School Districts and also a waitress at Buffalo Wild Wings. Most of my free time is consumed by my wonderful nieces and nephew: Jamisyn, Brooklynn, and our newest addition baby Gavin. |
Amanda Hagerty - Coach
Hi my name is Amanda Hagerty and I have been cheering since age 8. My cheerleading career began cheering for Brookhaven Jets Recreational Football. I then began cheering competitively for Our Lady of Charity until I graduated from middle school. I cheered all four years at Garnet Valley High School, moving to varsity my junior year under my coach, Robyn Craig. I then graduated from high school in 2005 and put cheerleading on hold while attending college. I graduated from West Virginia University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Investigations.
It was then in January of 2010 that cheerleading cycled back in my life when I asked Ingrid Welch for the opportunity to help coach the Brandywine Youth Club Competitive Cheerleading squad. I then became a member of the BYC coaching staff until March 2013. In addition to coaching BYC, I also became a member of the Encore Elite Wildcatz Open Level 6 team in 2011. I got the opportunity to competitively cheer again with some of my high school squad members! I cheered for the Encore Elite Open team for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 season, ending my cheerleading career with a 2013 National Championship Title (and jacket!!)
I am now a certified member of the USASF and I completed my credentialing as a coach for the next 3 years. I am so proud and excited to be the newest member of the Encore Elite Coaching staff this year! I look forward to many years and memories with my Encore Family!
When I'm not coaching, I enjoy spending my time with my husband, Ryan, family and friends. I have been employed with the Office of Adult Probation and Parole for the Delaware County Court House since 2009. I love going to the beach, cooking and being with those I love.
Desiree Cresta - Coach
Hi, My name is Desiree Cresta and I’ve been involved with cheerleading ever since I was 5. I started my career off with my local club team until I was 12 when I moved to a neighboring town and joined the Ridley Park Athletic Club cheerleaders, a rec team who was ranked 12th in the nation in the all-star division. I continued to cheer for them through my senior year in high school winning dozens of local and state titles, the 1996 Best Cheerleader award and being named a two time NCA All American. I also cheered concurrently at my high school Ridley where I was captain and also awarded the 1998 cheerleading scholarship.
After graduation I attended West Chester University graduating summa cum laude with a degree in Elementary Education. I also became the coach of the Ridley Park Juniors rec team and for the next 3 years they placed first at every local and regional competition we attended! I also coached gymnastics for John Pancott’s in Newtown Square and concurrently cheered with the Maryland Twisters Open team and competed with them nationally. After that my husband and I joined the State All-star cheerleading Open team and also competed regionally and nationally with them for 3 years ending our cheer career as America’s Best National Champions. In 2006 we took a break to start our family and now that my 6 year old Molly has gotten the itch, I’m back and in my second year as the Ridley Park Midgets competition coach and now the tumbling coach with Encore. I couldn’t be more excited to be on board here and help grow this program to the best in the area!
While I’m not coaching, I’m a stay at home mom and advocate for my 7 year old Aubrey who was born with an undiagnosed genetic condition making her nonverbal, epileptic, and cognitively disabled. I’m also the mom of Molly 6, Ledger 4, Thatcher 2, and our newest addition Tessa who is just 4 months. I spend most days arranging therapies, coordinating nursing and behavioral staff and learning and teaching the other kids sign language to be able to communicate with my daughter all while patiently waiting for the day I can go back to just being a teacher.
Our Cheer Staff is not only credentialed, but are USASF members