This is my eighth article in a series profiling prominent personalities in Canadian cheerleading. Thomas Rath is synonymous with University of Regina Cheerleading.
Thomas started cheerleading at O’Neill High School in Regina. He wholly absorbed cheerleading, the rules and the choreography. After graduation, they invited him back to coach. Attending the University of Regina, Thomas joined the U of R Cheer Team as an athlete. Meanwhile, Greenall High School in Balgonie (30 minutes from Regina), was looking for a coach for their high school team. Thomas left coaching at O’Neill and coached the Greenall team during his second year at U of R.
Thomas and Janessa met on the U of R Cheer Team, and were soon dating and coaching at Greenall together. Janessa was a graduate from Greenall. Coaching together is a good way to get to know some one. They married in 2009.
Thomas was one of many U of R cheerleaders who also cheered for the Roughriders. At that time, Roughriders Cheer was called the “Track and Trailblazers” named after the corporate sponsors. Under the leadership of Coach Nicole Bidwell, the Roughriders transitioned from dance to more athletic cheerleading.
Thomas finished four years at U of R as a student and cheerleader. Cheer Coach Nicole Green (Bidwell) passed the torch to him. The U of R Cheer Team was coached by Thomas and Janessa 2010-2017. Janessa stepped back when their daughter was born. This power couple led the U of R team to four national titles at the PCA Nationals for all Canadian university cheerleading. U of R represented Canada at University Worlds, ICU in Orlando, twice as a full team and once as a stunt group.
While coaching at U of R, Thomas also served as the Saskatchewan Cheerleading Association President 2014-2016.
Thomas coached Team Canada for four seasons, 2016-2019. In 2017, the Team Canada All-Girl Team won bronze in the Premier division. In 2019, Co-ed Team Canada won silver in Premier division. “Those seasons with Team Canada athletes were amazing and I left coaching floating on that wave of successes!”
Thomas and Janessa continue to host the annual “Best of the West” cheerleading competition in Regina since 2010.
