Kelsey Kyle (center) with her sisters Karley on the left and Kenzie on the right, who is on the WLU squad.
By Heather Clower
The Parsons Advocate
The coaching legacy continues with yet another member of the Kyle family taking the realm as a collegiate coach. Kelsey Kyle, daughter of Coaches Dave and Amber Kyle, has recently been chosen to serve as the Acrobatics and Tumbling Coach at West Liberty University near Wheeling.
“My background before acrobatics and tumbling was in cheerleading,” Kyle explained. Her cheering debut began at Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School and continued as she joined the squad at Tucker County High School, graduating in 2015. Kyle continued her education at Fairmont State University and her athletic career, competing with the acrobatics and tumbling team all four years. “While on the team, I was able to compete nationwide at division 1, 2, and 3 schools and in Texas, California, Hawaii, Oregon, etc,” she said. “My senior season I was named NCATA (National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association) Specialist of the Week two different times,” Kyle added. She also was the first ever Mountain East Conference Specialist of the year, first team all conference member, and MEC regular season and post season tournament champion, all while maintaining eligibility for the President’s List, President of the Fairmont State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Director of the FSU Summer Day Camp and playing a leading role in numerous Community Engagement events.
“Throughout my senior year, I realized that I wanted to coach A&T after I graduated,” she said. “My coach was my mentor and prepared me to apply for coaching job,” she added. Kyle graduated from FSU in May of 2019 with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice.
Kyle has big shoes to fill as she replaces the founding coach of the program, Treasure Fields. In an interview with Hilltoppers Sports, WLU Athletic Director Lynn Ullom said, “I was tremendously impressed by Kelsey’s enthusiasm and passion for the sport throughout the interview process,” Ullom said. “I appreciate all the hard work Treasure put into starting the program and building a solid foundation here at West Liberty and I’m convinced that Kelsey is the right person to take our Acrobatics & Tumbling to the next level.”
As the students prepare to return to campus, Kyle has already made contact with her squad in preparation for the upcoming season. “I am so excited to begin my coaching career at West Liberty University,” she said. “WLU is very well known for its athletic and academic accomplishments so my goal is to build an Acrobatics & Tumbling program that will expand and enhance that reputation. We have a nice sized roster that is full of potential for this upcoming season. I am excited to get the team on campus and begin working hard.”
