Tonight I learned that my college cheer coach, Coach Wendy Rice, passed away due to a car accident. Coach Wendy was one of the drivers who volunteered to take the CBU Cross Country team to their training camp in Mammoth.
She was my coach when I was on California Baptist University’s cheer team 2008-2009. She helped us to be our best, always. I had never had a coach that was so dedicated to her team as Wendy was. She had all of the answers, all of the details and everything organized for each of us girls. This was truly the most organized colligate squad ever because of her thoughtful dedication.
When I was on the team, our squad was very close and we were all like sisters. We went through all of the ups and downs together and Wendy always found a way to get us all together for team events. I have made some lifelong friends from those events, from those practices and from being on a top cheer team.
In 2009, our team did great at nationals, and I will never forget the look on her face as she congratulated us when we came off of the competition floor. All of the hard work was worth it to see tears in her eyes as she told us all how proud she was of us.
Despite the bruises, sweat and tears, we all were pushed to become the best athletes that we could possibly be. I was pushed at times to my limit and I am so thankful for all that Wendy taught us. She taught us to be strong, to persevere, she taught us to be our very best. I was performing at my very best athletically by the middle of the cheer season. We all were.
Though I did not renew my contract for the 2010 season because of work, I told Wendy at our exit interview, that she was truly the best coach that I have ever had. I thanked her for the opportunity to be on her squad, because it was a very special transition time of my life.
That next year, I would go to a few games and always cheered louder for cheer squad than for our basketball team, because this group of ladies is an amazing and inspiring and loving group of individuals. Every time that I would see the girls in or out of uniform, I felt like I was home. I have never been on such a tight knit team than ours. And we can thank Wendy for that.
Wendy loved her team, she was a great mother to her kids, Joe and Caitlyn and a loving wife to her husband. One of Wendy's passions was photography, she had this beautiful way of capturing the most special moments on camera. She had us close every practice with a prayer and would teach us devotionals regularly, She had the ability of letting anyone open up to her. She was a loving, honest, respected and driven lady and she will be missed. I will never forget her as a coach, as an individual and as a woman of God.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Wendy’s children and husband and family. I’ll be praying for all who were involved in the accident, May God Bless you all. This is a very sad loss for CBU, Wendy Rice, will remain in the hearts of many. And is now in the arms of our Lord, Jesus.
Here is the link to my interview about Coach Wendy for CBS- http://cbs2.com/local/car.accident.six.2.1851966.html
