Jessica Trefry
Assistant Cheer and STUNT Coach
Jessica Trefry brings more than 27 years of coaching experience to Aquinas College, joining the Saints as the Assistant Cheer and STUNT Coach. A seasoned leader in the cheer community, Trefry has made a lasting impact at every level of the sport—high school, competitive youth, and coach development.
Trefry earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Michigan State University, followed by a Teaching Certification from Spring Arbor University and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University. Her educational and professional background reflects a deep commitment to leadership, growth, and student development.
Before arriving at Aquinas, Trefry spent nearly three decades coaching at Michigan Center High School, where she built one of the region’s most successful cheer programs. Under her guidance, her teams claimed:
In addition to her high school coaching success, Trefry has served as a Coaching Mentor for Champion Cheerleading and is the Founder and President of 517 Youth Competitive Cheer, where she developed opportunities for young athletes to learn, compete, and grow in the sport.
Her excellence has been recognized repeatedly, earning:
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2020 CCCAM Coach of the Year
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2007 MCCA Coach of the Year
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Numerous District and Regional Coach of the Year honors
Originally from Jackson, Michigan, Trefry now lives in Grand Rapids. She is the proud mother of one daughter, Elly, who is also a collegiate cheer coach at Ferris State University. Her parents, married for over 51 years, remain in Jackson, and she also shares her home with her loyal dog, Teddy.
Outside of coaching, Jessica enjoys reading, paddle boarding, and going to concerts with her daughter.
Trefry chose Aquinas because of the college’s commitment to building a strong STUNT program and its alignment with her coaching philosophy. “I am incredibly excited to coach STUNT and get that program off the ground,” she shared. “I have a passion for coaching, and I love that Aquinas is investing in STUNT as a sport. Head Coach Sue and I share similar values, and working with her creates a great coaching dynamic.”
