Waltas handles multiple roles admirably | Sports - Stillwater News Press

March 05, 2019 at 08:59AM

"I'm very organized and detailed, that's the only way I can function. I don't sit still very well. I don't like to be idle … I like to be involved."

Accurately describing herself was Carolyn Walstad, the longtime cheerleading coach at Stillwater High School and executive director for the Stillwater Area Sports Association.

Her organizational skills, involvement and time management have been visible during her 24-year career as cheer coach at SHS. Attend any Stillwater High athletic event – at home or on the road – and you will see Walstad, a 1983 graduate of Oskaloosa (Kansas) High School.

Five years ago, she became executive director for the newly-formed SASA, a nonprofit organization devoted to providing league sports to the youth and adults of Stillwater and surrounding areas. Her time demands doubled, but she retains the same energy and passion for that post.

Walstad attended Oklahoma State University and after graduating ,worked in Houston where she dated and eventually married Rick Walstad, a former two-sport standout at SHS and Cowboy football player. They later returned to Stillwater where Carolyn was employed in SHS's main office.

"I was the first disciplinarian at the school, I handled absences and truancy," said the personable Walstad. "Julie Davis was the cheer coach and I became her assistant coach. She retired the next year and that's when I became head cheer coach.

She handled the role until daughter Carley was born and took time away from coaching to be a stay-at-home mom. She remained active with involvement in clubs and committees. She returned to the squad a few years later.

"I enjoy being involved with the Stillwater Pioneers. I feel I'm a good role model for the squad and I push them to a higher level. I believe this is where God has me, so I can make a difference in lives," said Walstad, who has also taken her squad to work with cheer squads at area schools.

"I've been about making memories, not drama. Stillwater is fortunate that we've had few issues and good parents. Cheerleading is more than just school spirit. It's about being a better person and better team. I've been very consistent and fair to everybody.

"I still stay in touch with several former cheers. When it's not fun for me to walk into the cheer gym or get on a yellow dog bus at night, then that's when I need to walk away," she said.

When asked about possibly heading SASA, Walstad worked out a schedule that allows her to take care of those duties, while also handling her cheer responsibilities. After modeling SASA after a similar program in Edmond, Walstad and her assistants felt comfortable with the program's growth and direction.

"I'm either at a high school event or SASA event," Walstad said "We partner with the city to manage their youth and adult sports. I work closely with Barb Bliss at the city and we hired Jared Szlichta as operations director. Our numbers have increased and SASA has allowed some new opportunities.

"We have 57 youth basketball teams and 24 adult basketball teams. We have 61 spring teams for baseball and softball and we have 18 volleyball teams playing now," she said. "The USSSA tournaments have been great. Our first tournament at the end of March has 50 teams already entered.

"Providing the recreational league for in-town teams and bringing that many teams to the city in tournaments is great. I feel SASA is in a great position for me to turn the reins over to someone else … but, I'm not ready to do that," she said.

"I'm very organized and detailed, that's the only way I can function. I don't sit still very well. I don't like to be idle … I like to be involved."

Accurately describing herself was Carolyn Walstad, the longtime cheerleading coach at Stillwater High School and executive director for the Stillwater Area Sports Association.

Her organizational skills, involvement and time management have been visible during her 24-year career as cheer coach at SHS. Attend any Stillwater High athletic event – at home or on the road – and you will see Walstad, a 1983 graduate of Oskaloosa (Kansas) High School.

Five years ago, she became executive director for the newly-formed SASA, a nonprofit organization devoted to providing league sports to the youth and adults of Stillwater and surrounding areas. Her time demands doubled, but she retains the same energy and passion for that post.

Walstad attended Oklahoma State University and after graduating ,worked in Houston where she dated and eventually married Rick Walstad, a former two-sport standout at SHS and Cowboy football player. They later returned to Stillwater where Carolyn was employed in SHS's main office.

"I was the first disciplinarian at the school, I handled absences and truancy," said the personable Walstad. "Julie Davis was the cheer coach and I became her assistant coach. She retired the next year and that's when I became head cheer coach.

She handled the role until daughter Carley was born and took time away from coaching to be a stay-at-home mom. She remained active with involvement in clubs and committees. She returned to the squad a few years later.

"I enjoy being involved with the Stillwater Pioneers. I feel I'm a good role model for the squad and I push them to a higher level. I believe this is where God has me, so I can make a difference in lives," said Walstad, who has also taken her squad to work with cheer squads at area schools.

"I've been about making memories, not drama. Stillwater is fortunate that we've had few issues and good parents. Cheerleading is more than just school spirit. It's about being a better person and better team. I've been very consistent and fair to everybody.

"I still stay in touch with several former cheers. When it's not fun for me to walk into the cheer gym or get on a yellow dog bus at night, then that's when I need to walk away," she said.

When asked about possibly heading SASA, Walstad worked out a schedule that allows her to take care of those duties, while also handling her cheer responsibilities. After modeling SASA after a similar program in Edmond, Walstad and her assistants felt comfortable with the program's growth and direction.

"I'm either at a high school event or SASA event," Walstad said "We partner with the city to manage their youth and adult sports. I work closely with Barb Bliss at the city and we hired Jared Szlichta as operations director. Our numbers have increased and SASA has allowed some new opportunities.

"We have 57 youth basketball teams and 24 adult basketball teams. We have 61 spring teams for baseball and softball and we have 18 volleyball teams playing now," she said. "The USSSA tournaments have been great. Our first tournament at the end of March has 50 teams already entered.

"Providing the recreational league for in-town teams and bringing that many teams to the city in tournaments is great. I feel SASA is in a great position for me to turn the reins over to someone else … but, I'm not ready to do that," she said.

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