Melisa Andino was raised in Woodlands, Texas, and grew up in a family where sports ruled. Naturally, she became a cheerleader at her high school where cheer is as popular on a Texas Friday night as the biggest football game in town.
A career move brought her to Southern California in 2007 as a seventh-grade math teacher at Malibu Middle School. Two years later, she became the varsity cheer coach for Malibu High. Now in her sixth season, Andino has built a decorated program that is highly respected and accomplished.
The Sharks won the “Top Banana” spirit award — the camp’s top honor — at the prestigious Universal Cheerleader Association camp at U.C. Santa Barbara this past August.
Malibu claimed first place at the Sharp International and at the UCA West Coast Championships in 2011 and at the UCA Regionals in 2012. Recently, Malibu’s Davis Faherty, Dawnie Perry, Lauren Murphy and Skylar Washington were selected as All-American cheerleaders and qualified for the London Parade in England from December 26 through January 2.
Andino is also the cheer director for the City of Malibu and its sixth- through eighth-grade program. Girls learn how to do stunts such as lifting, tossing and flipping, and master a stunt sequence of basket toss, full down, libs, heel stretch and other transition stunts.
The Malibu Times caught up with Andino as she began preparations for Malibu’s Homecoming festivities on November 7.
Talk about your love of cheerleading and how it inspired you to be a coach today.
My love of cheerleading came from a love of sports and particularly watching and cheering on my brother. My cheerleading coach was one person I never wanted to disappoint. I learned lessons about being on time, showing up, and being dedicated and committed to the team.
In Texas, every girl wants to be a cheerleader. The cheerleaders are the popular kids at school. You have hundreds of kids trying out for a 15-member squad. A lot of it comes down to ability and maybe a particular skill that one girl has over another girl.
Describe the difference in cheerleading between Woodlands and Malibu.
In Malibu, most girls are not able to tumble and flip like they do in Texas since there are no tumbling gyms here. However, a lot of girls here have dance experience so I’ve found that I can work with them and teach them how that can translate into cheerleading. The girls here are more enjoyable to work with because they come in and I can train them from scratch. I can teach them the way I want them to perform. Because they haven’t been cheerleading their whole life, they are more open for learning and trying new things. They like the constructive criticism and are very receptive and coachable.
How about the pride that your girls have for the MHS cheer program?
The girls are very proud of the program we have built. From where we first started the program, we have really grown. I have such a diverse group of girls. They have really come together as a team. They are proud of the compliments they receive and what they have achieved. They really enjoy supporting the players and the Malibu teams.
What did it mean to your program to win the “Top Banana” award at the UCSB cheer camp?
Winning the “Top Banana” was unexpected. All of my girls went to camp working hard and having a good time. They carried around inflatable Sharks and represented Malibu well. The girls were in shock when they found out they won but they saw the level of growth and realize now that they were one of the best teams at camp. I can’t even describe how happy the girls were. You would think they had won the Miss USA pageant. There were tears, hugs and smiles. The staff at UCSB was happy to give Malibu High the award.
Did you ever imagine that your career would bring you to Malibu?
I never thought I would leave Texas. Malibu was never on the radar. Now it feels like home. I get to see my students grow up from seventh grade until they walk across the stage at the high school graduation. The sense of community in Malibu — the school, the people, the parents, the students — that’s what has made this place feel like home for me.
