DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Bethune-Cookman cheerleading program will be under new guidance in the 2013-14 school year, with the addition of two new coaches for the program, Rebekah Woodson and John Woodson, Jr., who were introduced as the staff by Bethune-Cookman Athletics this week.
"I am very excited to have two high-caliber, experienced coaches join our program, with not only cheer experience but with prominent gymnastics experience as well,” Bethune-Cookman Senior Woman Administrator Sandra L. Booker said. “I am confident that these two individuals will propel our cheerleading program to not only wow the fans and establish a high level of school spirit, but to also successfully compete at the highest level."
Rebekah “Becky” Woodson is currently Program Director of Daytona Xtreme Allstars, while also teaching ballet, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary dance at Joy Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla...
“We are delighted to be working with the Bethune-Cookman cheerleading team,” Becky Woodson said. “We are excited to be able to provide the cheerleaders with unlimited access to our all-star cheerleading facility, Daytona Xtreme, and we will expect the cheerleaders to act as positive role models for the athletes in the gym, on campus and in the local community, to inspire the future generation of B-CU athletes.”
Becky Woodson has been choreographing cheer and dance routines for the past 10 years, receiving specialty awards; most entertaining and most creative, in addition to national and international championships. Woodson has also choreographed for the opening of High School Musical 3, CBBC TV, Michael Jackson “This is it” Dance Contest, Bristol's Best Dance Act, Battle of the Bands and Street Dance XXXL.
Becky Woodson started her career in dance, training professionally at the Southwest Academy of Dramatic Arts (SWADA) in Bristol (United Kingdom) and gaining a BTEC in dance, going on to perform in England and California. She went on to cheer professionally with The Blue Flames, the official cheerleaders for the Bristol Rovers Football Club (Bristol, UK). Woodson also continued to dance professionally, appearing in the off-Broadway version of STOMP in San Diego, and the touring version of The Nutcracker for the Irish National Ballet.
After working with the Blue Flames, Becky Woodson opened Crusaders Cheer and Dance in 2002 in Bristol. Over a 10-year period, the Crusaders won hundreds of national titles in cheer, jazz, hip-hop and pom. They also won European and international titles, while also picking up “Best Choreography” and “Grand Champion” honors. The Crusaders consisted of 17 teams, including high school, college, special needs and parent teams. Woodson closed the program in 2012 when she moved to Orlando, Fla.
In 2010, Becky Woodson won South West Sports Coach of the Year and Sports Team of the Year for her squad's international achievements. In 2005 and 2006, she was crowned British Cheerleader of the Year and was head instructor for the British Cheerleading Association (BCA).
She was the head judge for the Malaysian Nationals in 2004 and judged all across Scotland, England and Wales at regional and national events.
“We hope to bring a stronger presence of B-CU spirit around campus and at the games,” Becky Woodson said. “Our Coaching philosophy is 'Your actions follow your beliefs.' We believe this team will be stronger, more entertaining and more dynamic then anything you have ever seen from the cheerleading program before.”
Currently the Tumbling Director at Daytona Xtreme Allstars, John Woodson has coached many athletes in Cirque, Team USA and stunt roles in movies, focusing on proper progression and technique.
John Woodson began his gymnastics career at Evans High School in 1990, where he was winner of awards for Most Consistent and MVP, 1st in Metro and 3rd in State. He went on to begin his coaching career at Youth & Sports Club, YMCA and Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Fla.
John Woodson then became the head coach at Brandy Johnson's Gymnastics in men's gymnastics and TNT, leading to a Tumbling Instructor position at Browns Gymnastics. He has also held Tumbling Coach positions at Orlando All-Stars, Epic, Clermont All-Stars and World Cheerleading Center, in addition to Acrobatics Teacher at Joy Christian Arts.
John Woodson competed for the Orlando Flames, cheerleading on the Open Team, placing first at NCA Nationals and the European Open.
In addition to his coaching and competition career, John Woodson has also judged competitions in England for the World Cheerleading Coalition (ICC) and was head instructor at tumble camps in England, Wales and Jamaica.
John and Becky currently live in Orlando and have three sons.
For all the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow the official Twitter feeds at @BCUathletics, or "Like Us" on Facebook at BCUAthletics.
-B-CUathletics.com-
