It all started for Jhaqueanna “Jha” Mickle when she was just six years old.
That was when she fell in love with cheerleading. Her love of, and passion for, the sport has not faded in the two decades since she got her start. That passion has led her to being selected as the first cheer coach for Atlantic Collegiate Academy.
"We are truly fortunate to have Coach Mickle join our school and athletic community, and I have no doubt that, under her guidance, our cheerleading program will develop into a great program,” ACA Director of Athletics William Payne said. “She is a well-respected member of the cheer community here in Horry County and her experiences and successes at the club level will transition well at the high school level."
A native of Columbus, Ga., grew up in a military family, moving from post to post with her parents and two younger brothers. The constant amid all the change was her love of cheer and the way the cheer community embraces everyone involved in the sport.
Cheer was her constant through high school, graduating from Blythewood High near Columbia, and on to college where she was a four-year member of the cheer squad at Coastal Carolina University while earning a degree in Psychology. During her competitive career she was a two-time NCA Champion at the All-Star Nationals and finished in the top three in the NCA College Nationals.
“I loved game day cheerleading in high school and as a collegiate cheerleader at CCU however, in college, I longed to be able to compete in multiple competitions each year,” Mickle said. “Here at ACA, I get the opportunity to watch my team do both. That is the best of both worlds for me with one team – that is a dream.”
After completing her degree at CCU, Mickle became the head cheer coach at Cheer Extreme in Myrtle Beach while also working as a teacher assistant at the Coastal Montessori Charter School in Pawley’s Island. She opened her own All-Star cheer program, Carolina Athletics, in 2022.
In addition to opening her own program, Mickle and her high school sweetheart husband, Darrius, welcomed a daughter, Luna, in 2022.
“I am so excited to be the first head cheerleading coach at Atlantic Collegiate Academy,” Mickle said. “To be able to create standard and traditions is a big responsibility, and I am ready to take that on.”
In addition to cheer, Mickle has a passion for singing, having been active in school choirs throughout her youth. She also enjoys listening to podcasts, particularly in the true crime genre.
