TWO WOMEN RUN THE SHOW

Lindsay Bracken is the head cheer coach, in charge of OSU’s large and small co-ed teams and STUNT.

Beki Jackson is the spirit coordinator for cheer and pom squads, as well as Pistol Pete, and serves as the coach of the pom squad. It might seem like a rather straightforward job description. But there are some outliers. Keep in mind that Pistol Pete alone makes approximately 700 appearances annually, not counting athletic competitions. And the spirit groups logged closed to 1,300 hours of voluntary community service during the most recently completed academic year.

And don’t forget the championships. Along with raising spirits at OSU’s athletic competitions, the OSU spirit squads have their own national competitions.

IN FACT, OSU HAS WON 20 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

(at three different divisions) since 1988.

Both Bracken and Jackson have similar backgrounds. Both are OSU grads and former spirit squad members. Both are married moms and have backgrounds in education. Bracken is a professor and has earned a PhD. That’s Dr. Bracken to you and me. Jackson is a former elementary school teacher.

Add it all together and it makes for a chaotic schedule with lots of travel, lots of moving parts and lots of ups and downs. That means lots of coordination without a lot of helping hands.