Restivo named Head Cheer Coach

When former Red Raven Head Cheer Coach Jeff Snow left CCC following the 2007-2008 school year, the college did not have to look far for a replacement. Rocky Restivo, who was originally hired as the Assistant Cheer Coach last spring, was recently appointed Head Cheer Coach.

Restivo has a B.B.A. degree from Pittsburg State University and an A.A. degree from Fort Scott Community College. He cheered at Pittsburg State for five years, including a couple of seasons following the completion of his bachelor’s degree while he was working on a graduate program. He was named captain his final year at Pittsburg.

Restivo takes the reins of a team that will have approximately 65 members next season. The team is also coming off a sixth place finish at the UCA national cheer competition this past January under Coach Snow, who is now coaching at an all-star gym in Orange County, California.

“I am going to build off the standard Coach Snow set and try to get the program back to the national championship level,” said Restivo. Coffeyville won the 2003 UCA cheer national championship in the small co-ed division.

Restivo plans are taking two squads to nationals in 2009. CCC will likely enter squads in both the large co-ed and small co-ed divisions.

“The large co-ed competes as a junior college and the small co-ed competes as Division II which includes four year schools,” said Restivo. Large co-ed division cheer is single base stunting and small co-ed is multiple base stunting.

Both squads will be on the football field at the same time this fall. “It’s just a difference in competition style,” said Restivo.

Most of next season’s team will consist of Kansas students. “We have five or six kids from Coffeyville and about 12 returning sophomores,” said Restivo. “We will also have students from Wichita, Topeka, Kansas City, and Leavenworth – mostly in-state kids. I’ve got around eight out-of-state.”

Although the Ravens will have a huge squad next year, Restivo is selective about the students he wants in the program. “I look for kids who have the passion for the activity and expectations of progressing, not settle for where they’re at now,” said Restivo. “I have high expectations both athletically and academically.”