Fredonia University

Former Fredonia cheerleader Katie Pucci-Schaefer is entering her 18th year coaching the Fredonia Blue Devil cheerleaders. She has led the team to finals performances three out of the last four years at the Universal Cheerleading Association College Championship in Orlando, Florida. The team competes in the Open All-Girl Division against other Division III teams and community colleges.

Under her direction, the Fredonia cheerleaders perform at men's and women's home basketball games, at the Freshmen Convocation, assist at Move-In Day, perform at the annual Homecoming assembly, Fall Sweep community service, local after-school programs, and make appearances at home soccer games.

Pucci-Schaefer runs the Fredonia Cheerleading and Dance Competition, an annual sanctioned event each January which attracts approximately 100 high school and youth teams. It serves as the team's major fundraiser each year.

Raised in Dunkirk-Fredonia, Pucci-Schaefer is a 1993 graduate of Fredonia. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in education. She currently is an adjunct professor in Applied Professional Studies and teaches Aqua Aerobics, Sport Event Management, Zumba, and Zumba Sentao. She also operates her own business, Fitness with Katie PS. She offers a variety of community fitness classes.

Pucci-Schaefer has worked as an elementary and high school teacher and coached cheerleaders at Dunkirk and Fredonia high schools before returning to Fredonia. She and her husband, Todd, have four daughters.