Five WVU Alumni Cheerleaders Also Cheered for the Indians
By Julie Perine on October 06, 2014 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Among West Virginia University alumni cheerleaders on hand at Saturday’s homecoming game against Kansas were five from Bridgeport High School, where they cheered on the Indians.
Supporting the gold and blue – and even getting to do a little stunting – were Holly Stuart Barnhart, Jaryn Pulice, Ashley Jolliff, Chelsea Eades and Christina Grisso Woods.
Holly Stuart Barnhart cheered for WVU from 1998 through 2001. She thereafter attended graduate school. She was married to Brian Barnhart eight years ago. After working for a specialty pharmaceutical sales rep for 10 years, she decided to be a stay-at-home mom three years ago when her third child, Bennett, was born. She is also the mom of 6-year-old Bailey and 9-year-old Olivia, both
who are following in Barnhart’s footsteps with athletics/cheerleading. They compete with the mini and junior teams, respectively, with Midwest Cheer Elite in South Florida.
who are following in Barnhart’s footsteps with athletics/cheerleading. They compete with the mini and junior teams, respectively, with Midwest Cheer Elite in South Florida.
“My girls have been begging for me to come back and cheer the alumni game,” she said. “It was a
n awesome experience to be able to share that with my girls.”
Pulice graduated from BHS in 2000 and cheered for WVU from 2000 through 2004. She now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she works as an audiologist. She said she made lifelong friendships while attending WVU and was happy to take part in homecoming weekend.
“I enjoyed seeing my teammates this past weekend. I have great memories from major events like traveling and bowl games down to daily trainings and practices,” she said. “Many of my collegiate memories are with these friends on and off the field!”
As Pulice’s stunting partner Chris Williams was also on the sidelines, the pair noted their 10-year anniversary in true gold and blue style, as did some of her fellow WVU cheer alums.
Chelsea Eades just graduated from WVU in 2014 and cheered all four years of college. She already realizes the importance of the experience.
“It was important to me because I met people who I will be friends with for a long time who I would have never met if I didn't cheer with them,” she said. “It was also neat to travel to all the different places and experience the Big 12 Conference.”
Eades, who now works as a dental hygienist, said it was good to be back on the field.
“It’s always a fun experience. It was nice to see all the girls I cheered with, some still being on the team this year,” she said.
A 2012 graduate of WVU, Ashley Jolliff cheered for the Mountaineers from 2008 through 2012.
“Cheering for West Virginia University is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said. “WVU has the greatest fans who continue to make it special every time you step on the field.”
Jolliff said her time at WVU was an important part of her life and that it helped her transition into a confident entrepreneur. She is owner of the online clothing shop www.ashleycoleshop.com.
She said Saturday was an amazing time.
“Being back on the field with all my teammates gives you a feeling words can't never describe,” she said. “When we are all on the field cheering again, it is like nothing ever changed.”
Christina Grisso Woods cheered at WVU from 1999 to 2003. She now works as finance manager at Camden Clark Hospital in Parkersburg and is the mother of three young children, 11-year-old Grayer, 7-year-old Isabella and 4-year-old Parker. Having the chance to return to Mountaineer Field meant a lot to her.
“Any college athlete – or athlete in general – wishes he or she could go back and do it again,” she said. “WVU gives cheerleaders and band members the opportunity to do that and it’s something really special – not something every athlete gets to do.”
Woods said 70 WVU alumni cheerleaders took part in this weekend’s festivities.
“New leadership with alumni cheerleaders has allowed (the program) to expand and they’ve done a great job with that,” she said. “They make sure we’re all kept up to date and as there has been more planning, more people have gotten involved and participated. They’ve made it a lot of fun.”
The goal for next year’s homecoming is 100 alumni cheerleaders, Woods said.
Editor's Note: Pictured top/cover (left to right) Holly Stuart Barnhart, Jaryn Pulice, Ashley Jolliff, Chelsea Eades and Christina Grisso Woods..jpg)
Also pictured are Pulice (top), Jolliff and Eades getting in on the WVU cheer action on Saturday.
Shown left is Bridgeport's Ellen Condron (second from right), who attended Washington Irving High School and cheered for WVU from 1968-1971. She is pictured with other WVU cheerleaders of the era.
