As part of adding acrobatics and tumbling as a varsity sport at Shawnee State University, the athletic department at Shawnee State has brought in Chloe Minton to serve as its first head coach of the program, as announced by Shawnee State Director of Athletics Gerald Cadogan Wednesday.

For Minton, the opportunity to build the profile of a sport that is near and dear to her heart in this manner is one that she's looked forward to ever since her journey in the sport began.

"The opportunity to give back to a sport similar to one I have been involved in throughout my whole life is something that I have always hoped to do," Minton said. "Being able to bring a new collegiate athletics opportunity to Southern Ohio is so exciting in itself. I am so honored that I was asked by Gerald to work alongside him to help this dream come true. Giving back to the sport and community that has helped shape me is not only something I have always wanted to do, but to be able to do it at the collegiate level is a dream come true."

Minton, who started tumbling at five years of age, began competitive cheerleading just prior to entering her teenage years. Minton turned her love for the sport into a decade-long pursuit, beginning her journey cheerleading for Portsmouth for four years at the high school level.

"Finding the sport of competitive cheerleading at such a young age was an influential part of my life," Minton said. "As my love for the sport grew, so did my desire to increase my skill set. I wanted to get better everyday in order to reach my goal of competing at the national and collegiate level. Throughout high school, my focus was driven by the requirements to make a team at the collegiate level. It was always a dream of mine to become a member of the Morehead State cheerleading program. I began to train on skills required for collegiate tryouts."

While the COVID-19 pandemic made Minton's ability to find a spot on a college roster more challenging, Minton's will allowed her to break through anyway -- as Minton's relentless pursuit of her dreams allowed the Portsmouth native to earn her goal of trying out in an attempt to make Morehead State's cheerleading roster. Minton not only made the squad, but was selected to be a member of the All-Girl Cheerleading Team as an incoming freshman.

Minton ultimately contributed to two national titles as part of that All-Girl Cheer Squad at Morehead State, who has won 14 All-Girl National Championships and 54 national cheerleading championships in all -- 53 from the Universal Cheer Association (UCA) and one from the National Cheer Association (NCA).

"The Morehead Cheerleading Program is the most successful collegiate program in college cheerleading," Minton said. "The program is full of all kinds of different people who all share the same passion, and that is to be the best there is. To be selected as a member of the team so young was such an honor in itself. To know that I was trusted to be a part of this legacy with the skill set I had coming in is something I will always be grateful for. Morehead State changed me forever as an athlete and has now shown me what it takes as a coach to lead a successful team. As an athlete at MSU, I was given so many opportunities that helped me grow not only physically in my sport but mentally as a better person and athlete as well. Taking the time to focus on the smallest things and repeating them until they are perfect is what works. You always have to know that someone out there is willing to go the extra mile to be the best, and you have to be the one who wants it more. This is a mindset that will forever be instilled in me."

Now, Minton is looking forward to fostering the same mindset in the student-athletes that she will be recruiting and coaching at Shawnee State University.

"I want to thank Gerald for giving me this opportunity to begin a new program at Shawnee State," Minton said. "I think this sport will bring so much excitement for not only the area of Southern Ohio, but for SSU and the community of acrobatics and tumbling. I am excited to give young women the ability to compete at the collegiate level in a similar sport that has forever changed me as a person and an athlete. I want to instill the same drive and passion I had as an athlete into the future athletes of this program. My goals for this first year of Acrobatics and Tumbling is to build a team of athletes that all are pursing the same goal, and that is to be the best that we can be at all times. I am so grateful and honored for this new beginning at Shawnee State."