July 29, 2025
Preseason Outlook with Head Coach Raven Gau
What season are you going into as Head Cheer Coach and Spirit Coordinator for the Iowa Western Cheerleading program?
I am heading into my 8th season leading the Reiver Spirit program! I can hardly believe it! I can confidently say, I am even more passionate about my job and the role I get to have in young adults' lives now, 8 years later than when I began.
What kind of team culture is desired to be fostered this season, and how can everyone contribute to it?
I'm looking forward to continuing to build upon the culture that has already been established over the past 7 seasons. It has been adjusted accordingly each year as every team is different and may require different things to get to the same result, which is to ultimately bring home a National Championship. We have a collaborative and supportive coaching staff that models how important camaraderie is, which filters down into our athletes. This program is built on a learning focused and growth-oriented structure, allowing us to take athletes from all different backgrounds and levels of cheerleading.
How is the experience of the veteran players planned to be leveraged to mentor and support younger players on the team?
Seasoned players who embody team values and show a strong willingness to mentor are an invaluable resource.
With our spirit program being so large, we have developed a system of mini-families within our large overall group, allowing our veterans to support the younger players and guide them throughout their first season.
What are your initial thoughts on the team's strengths and areas for improvement, and how will that influence game plans?
Our strength would definitely be having a group of returning members who know how to bounce back from a setback and adapt according to the circumstances with composure. This mindset and outlook really helps the incoming athletes to build confidence quickly. My biggest area for improvement with this group of athletes this season is for them to remember that they enjoy cheerleading. To embrace their time as a student-athlete and bring the joy back into cheerleading for them. It has become such a competitive sport that sometimes we get wrapped up in it. I think this will have a positive influence on my game plan of training the athletes this season and enhance their experience even more within our program.
What are you most excited about with the upcoming 2025-2026 season approaching in just a few days?
Where to start! So many things.. Seeing the dedication to the returning members' craft from training last spring into the offseason come to fruition. It is so rewarding to watch them refine their skills and mature as individuals. I am also looking forward to acclimating our new members and seeing how they will contribute to our team dynamic this season. Overall, I am excited for the journey we are about to all embark on together, and creating a memorable and successful season.
Go Reivers!