Oklahoma Bible Academy cheer came into this year with fresh energy and high expectations. Head coach Alisha Christensen and assistant coach Shaunna Martin, a longtime Enid local, are leading the program together for the very first time.
Christensen is a Northwest Oklahoma native and graduate of Sharon-Mutual High School, where she played basketball, ran track, and cheered throughout high school. In college, she was a member of the dance team at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. After living overseas for more than 20 years while her husband served in the U.S. Navy, she is thrilled to be back in Oklahoma and giving back to students through cheer.
“I love that OBA offers Christian education where the teachers, coaches, and staff make the Bible and a Christian worldview relevant by incorporating the Word of God into the classrooms, hallways, and on the fields and courts,” said Coach Christensen. “They exhibit a genuine love for God and for every student and for their families, which I greatly appreciate.”
Christensen describes this year’s squad in one word, which is “faithful.”
“Faithful to following Christ, faithful to the mission of God’s call on their lives, faithful to representing OBA well, faithful to excellence, faithful to support every team win or lose, and faithful to serve the Enid community,” she said. “These girls even show up out of uniform to cheer on other OBA sports teams like softball, volleyball, cross country, and track. They truly embody school spirit and a sense of community pride.”
The team looks to seniors Emmaleigh Pendleton, Savannah Schulz, and Gracie Westfall to lead them through the season. Christensen says the group is more than just cheerleaders, many of them are also involved in theatre, student council, class offices, and even planning Mini-Cheer Camps for younger students. Several are dual-credit or honors students, proving they can balance school spirit with OBA’s rigorous academic expectations.
“This squad is fun, energetic, kind, talented, dedicated, and able to do hard things well,” said Christensen. “I am honored to coach these outstanding young ladies who cheer for OBA! As Proverbs 27:17 says, ‘As iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another.’ These young ladies are definitely sharpening me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to coach this remarkable squad.”
With Christensen’s fresh perspective and Martin’s local insight, the OBA cheer program is poised for a season full of faith, energy, and school pride. Fans and families can look forward to seeing the squad perform at games, competitions, and community events, representing both their school and their values with confidence and excitement. The future looks bright for OBA cheer, and this year promises to be one to remember.
