Sandy Yanko
Coach Cheerleading
2 years
Phone: 314-984-7897
E-mail: syanko@stlcc.edu

Coach Sandy Yanko starts the 2006/07 season with a Safety Certification in Cheerleading from AACCA (American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators) received while attending the team's first away college camp. After the seminar in July 2006 and passing the written exam, Coach Yanko is now certified for four years in safety. She is very strong in technique and safety has always been a priority in her program.

Coach Sandy Yanko completed her third season (2006/07) as head coach. Coach Yanko joined Meramec after a successful high school career coaching teams in Virginia and St. Louis, Missouri. Her teams have competed at both state and national levels and have received recognition for their athleticism, dance and gymnastic expertise.

Coach Yanko's first year at Meramec introduced new and exciting routines to the program. The talented group of athletes that comprised the 2004/05 team brought the Meramec program to new heights in the literal and figurative sense. The squad won first place in the 2006 St. Patrick's Day Parade Youth Marching category. They also won the Leadership Award at the UCA/UDA Camp.

Prior to Meramec Coach Yanko taught cheerleading in the St. Louis area at MICDS from 1995-1997 and then at St. Johns High School from 1997-2004. Her St. Johns team competed in the Missouri regional and state competition 6 out of her 7 years. In the 2003-2004 season, the team placed first in regional competition, 6th in the Missouri State Competition and first place for the best pom routine in the St. Patrick's Marching Parade down Market Street.

Prior to returning to St. Louis, Sandy served as the Commissioner of Cheerleading for the Northern Virginia Junior Catholic Youth Organization from 1984 through 1992. She attended camps and seminars for coaches and received a Coaches Certification, First Aid and Safety Certification in the Sport of Cheerleading and CPR training. She was then asked to coach at the high school level and began at Robert E. Lee High School. Her teams competed locally in the district and state cheerleading competitions and in both the National Cheerleading Competitions in Dallas and the Canadian American National Cheerleading Competitions at Myrtle Beach, North Carolina. In 1995 Sandy was nominated as coach of the year nationwide by Cheer Limited and was a nominee for the United States Presidents Volunteer Award. She received the NVJCYO Presidents Volunteer Award in 1995.

Sandy earned a B.A. degree in Business Administration for Fontbonne University.