After coaching cheer for 11 years, Assistant Office Administrator and Sion graduate from the class of 1981, Michelle Schlitzer is stepping down from her position as assistant coach of the cheer team, but will remain as Assistant Office Administrator for the 2017-2018 school year.

In 2005, Schlitzer was looking for a job at Rockhurst High School because her sons were starting school there. Within a few days of dropping off her resume at Rockhurst, she received a phone call from Office Manager Mary Sellmeyer asking if she was interested in a position in the front office. Schlitzer was taken aback because she originally wasn’t even aware of the position.  

“It was rather comical because I know I had to have sounded completely confused during my conversation with Mary, who was the one who called me,” Schlitzer said.

That same year Sion’s cheer coach Sylvia Duschen passed away after a battle with cancer. Duschen was also the office administrator so Sellmeyer inherited that role and Schlitzer was hired as assistant office manager. The Dean of Students at the time, Hope James, stepped in as assistant cheer coach but when juggling the two jobs became too much she asked Schlitzer to coach.

“Coaching has been an amazing experience for me,” Schlitzer said. “It’s given me the opportunity to get to know over 200 students over the past 11 years on a more personal level.”

Coaching cheer has been an enjoyable experience for Schlitzer because she has three boys and coaching the girls over the past 11 years has given her ample girl time to make up for it. Working with the girls for long hours has also given Schlitzer an appreciation of the level of commitment Sion students have.

“I am always amazed at how well they prioritize their many responsibilities,” Schlitzer said. “When I see how hard they work, it inspires me to do the same.”

To junior cheer captain Lauren Ismert, Schlitzer is like a mother figure to the team. Ismert has had Schlitzer for all three years as a coach and Schlitzer knew her while she was a student at St. Thomas More.

“She is always so positive and brings us together and is very easy to talk to,” Ismert said.

According to head cheer coach Lisa Lauck, ever since Schlitzer and her began working together they have been friends. Lauck enjoys the conversations that they have together about cheer and sharing that passion for cheer is what she will miss about Schlitzer.

“She loves the team so much and she always has such great ideas,” Lauck said. “She knows how to build up a person and she really brings that into cheerleading.”

Although Schlitzer won’t be at every cheer practice anymore, she still plans on visiting the team, and Lauck, at games, competitions and of course, when they need something from  the front office.

“I hope I have touched their lives in some small way knowing that I have been their advocate and will always be there for them,” Schlitzer said. “I have respect and admiration for them and truly wish them all the success in the world.”