About Us

Junior Lancer Cheer (JLC) is a not-for-profit organization, and was created in 2009 to fill a void in the Elmbrook School District for elementary and middle school aged student athletes wishing to learn and compete in the exciting sport of youth cheerleading. Our adult leaders and coaches are unpaid volunteers with children in the program. JLC’s funding comes from annual registration and tuition fees paid by participating families. Though JLC is considered to be the feeder program to Brookfield Central High School Cheer, we are an independent organization, and we are not supported by school funds or property taxes.

JLC is an athletic, no-cut, no-tryout sport for 3rd - 8th grade girls and boys.  We will accept any athlete residing in the Elmbrook School District, as long as they are able to commit to our practice and competition schedule. JLC believes in offering a disciplined program to any athlete that wishes to learn the fundamentals of cheerleading and experience cheerleading in an emotionally and physically safe environment.



Administrator & Head Coach

Administrator & Head Coach
Michelle Kiese
Coach Michelle is a NFHS Accredited and Credentialed Interscholastic Coach, and is AACCA certified in Spirit Safety and Risk Management, and NCSSE Master Level certified in cheer stunting. She been with JLC since it started in 2009, and is also American Red Cross certified in First Aid, and CPR/AED for Adults, Youth and Infants.  Coach Michelle is originally from the sunny shores of Oahu, Hawaii, but is proud to now call Brookfield her home.

Coach Michelle has ten years of coaching experience, working with cheerleaders in elementary and middle school.  In addition to overseeing all Junior Lancer Cheer teams during the football season, Coach Michelle coaches the JLC Nationals Team for the competitive season.  She coached the JLC teams that represented Wisconsin at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships in 2014, 2015, and 2017 and the ICU World School Cheerleading Championships in 2015.   She has seven years of choreography experience, has also been honored to sit on try-out judging panels for some of Wisconsin's top high school cheerleading programs for the past 8 years, and was also a team coach and class instructor for Heat Athletics, one of Wisconsin's Top All Star Cheer Programs.  Coach Michelle recently began her USASF Credentialing process, and intends to be fully credentialed for Levels 1- 5.  She is a proud member coach of AACCA, NFHS, WACPC, NCSSE and USASF.

Coach Michelle has two children, Nick (22) and Meghan (18).  She enjoys being her children's cheerleader as they both very active in academics and sports (cheerleading, power tumbling, martial arts, cross country, track and field, and wrestling). In her "spare" time, she enjoys reading, knitting, and cooking.  




2018-19 Senior Coaching Staff

Meghan Kiese
Nationals Team Assistant Coach
Blue Squad Coach

Coach Meghan is returning for her seventh year coaching with Junior Lancer Cheer.  Coach Meghan started cheerleading when JLC was founded in 2009, and it very quickly became her passion!  Coach Meghan is a Junior at Brookfield Central High School, and Captain of the BC Varsity Cheer Team.  In addition to coaching the A Squad during football season, she is our Nationals Team Assistant Coach, and was instrumental in coaching the 2017 Nationals Team to their 6th place finish at UCA NSHCC.  

Coach Meghan is a UCA and NCA All-American Cheerleader, a recipient of the 2015 Spirit of JLC Award, and co-captain of the 2014-15 JLC Titanium Nationals team that came in 7th place at the UCA NHSCC and 4th Place at the ICU School World Cheerleading Championships.  She was also a member of the 2013-14 Nationals team, JLC's and Wisconsin's first recreational cheerleading team to earn a bid and place in the Top 10 at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships.  Coach Meghan also coaches Cobalt, our 3rd & 4th grade competitive rec cheer team, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Brookfield Central Key Club.






Ana Shah
Blue Squad Coach

Coach Ana is returning for her fourth year coaching with Junior Lancer Cheer.  Coach Ana started cheerleading in 2009, and fell in love with this exciting sport.  Coach Ana is an incoming Junior at Brookfield Central High School, and is a member of the BC Varsity Cheer Team.  Coach Ana is a recipient of the 2015 Spirit of JLC Award, and co-captain of the 2014-15 JLC Titanium Nationals team that came in 7th place at the UCA NHSCC and 4th Place at the ICU School World Cheerleading Championships.  She was also a member of the 2013-14 Nationals team, JLC's and Wisconsin's first team to earn a bid and place in the Top 10 at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships.






2018-19 Parent Leadership Council

Julie D’Amato, mom to Sofia, is entering into her 3rd year with the JLC family, and first year on the JLC Parent Leadership Council.  Julie is familiar with cheer; Sofia was an All Star Cheerleader for 4 years prior to joining the JLC family. Julie has been married to Tony for 15 years. They met when they are 21. They also have a daughter Natalie who is turning 11 this year who loves Karate. They added a new member to their family in late 2016 a Border Collie puppy named Chloe who keeps them moving!! Julie has been employed at Jorgensen Conveyors in Mequon as the Purchasing Manager for just for 2 years.  When not driving to cheer or other activities Julie likes to spend time with family and friends going to movies, festivals and other fun activities. Julie is very excited and honored to be part of the JLC Parent Leadership Council and to be part of the JLC family!!


Tumbling Coaches


Elite Tumbling Owner
Nick Mantz
Owner and founder of Elite Tumbling LLC, Nick Mantz is a former competitive gymnast through North Shore Gymnastics and Salto Gymnastics.  Coach Nick has coached cheer tumbling for over 12 years, and is a Nationals Judges Official for USA Gymnastics for over 13 years.  In 2003, Nick became a National Judges Official for the state of Wisconsin, and in 2008 became one of the youngest international judges official in the country.

Coach Nick is an expert in introductions to back handsprings, acceleration standing tumbling, standing back tucks, front tumbling, and all levels of connection tumbling.






Professional Memberships