Rowden Named Crossroads League Competitive Cheer Player of the Year

JACKSON, Mich. — Jordan Rowden of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University competitive cheerleading team received the Player of the Year honor from the Crossroads League on Monday, February 27.

The senior from Hebron, Ohio put together a tremendous year on the mat for the team and becomes MVNU's first player of the year in program history. Rowden is the first player of the year for the school overall since Aaron Saal claimed the honor for baseball in 2021.

"Jordan is an incredibly talented athlete and leader on our team. He is very deserving of this award," said head coach Melissa Nowicki. "Jordan is the only athlete from the league to do a standing full (back flip with a full twist) this season. He also does running tumbling passes with a full twisting layout with great technique. He is front and center for jumps, is a backspot for stunts, and is an essential base for our baskets and pyramid. Jordan is a fan favorite and his tumbling always gets a big reaction from the crowd as well as cheerleaders we are competing against. He is a phenomenal cheerleader, and I am thrilled for him to receive this award."

"Jordan has been part of our competitive cheer program since the very beginning," continued Nowicki. "His freshman year he was on our club team before we became a varsity team in 2019. He has been a highlight of our program every season since then! His tumbling is amazing to watch. He works incredibly hard and always strives to improve his difficulty and technique. Jordan is the most skilled athlete on our team and the most humble. He always comes into practice ready to work, with a positive attitude, and is a great encourager to his teammates. He lights up on the mat and brings a lot of joy and laugher to our team. This honor is a great way to finish off his cheerleading career at MVNU and I am so incredibly proud of him!"

Along with the big honor, Rowden also made first team as a tumbler after earning a second team honor the previous season. Along with these accolades, Rowden has also been the MVNU Cheer Tumbler of the Year twice and has been the Casey Cougar mascot at home games for the past two seasons. Rowden also was selected as the 2021 MVNU Cheer Team Leader.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,000 students from 25 states and 11 foreign countries.