Coach Arikka D. Fears enters her third year as Spirit Coordinator at Thiel College. Fears' primary responsibilities are to oversee the Tomcats' competitive Cheer and Dance programs.
She has led the Tomcat Spirit Squad to many top finishes in national competitions, including a sixth place finish in the College Nationals in 2011 and a tenth place finish in the NCA/NDA Collegiate Nationals in 2013.
Fears arrived at Thiel after a four-year stint at West Mesquite High School in Mesquite, Texas, where she taught dance and served as the coordinator of the school's dance team. She also had responsibility for the freshman and junior varsity cheerleading squads.
She currently serves as an instructor and judge with the Universal Dance Association and the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA), roles she has filled since 2006 and 2001, respectively.
The UDA named Fears its Head Instructor of the Year in 2004 and she was also recognized as the 2009 American Dance/Drill Team Outstanding Director.
Fears brings a variety of professional experience to her new position, most notably her work from 2003-05 as a Dallas Sidekick Sizzle Dancer, which included hip hop, pom and dance performance.
A 2005 graduate of Texas Woman's University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, Fears also holds a secondary teaching certificate in dance from the University of North Texas.
