Spirit Spotlight: Melissa Lescano

Each year, we come together in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Running from September 15^th to October 15^th, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the culture, tradition and contribution of Hispanic and Latin Americans and the heritage rooted in all Latin American countries. Varsity Spirit is proud to shine a spotlight on Melissa Lescano, current coach at El Rancho High School who embraces her heritage while making a difference in the life of her athletes.

Melissa first began her journey in cheerleading alongside her best friend Valerie in high school. They both made their high school cheer team and continued on to cheer in college. The dynamic duo is now coaching together at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, California.

A strong sense of family and community is extremely important to Melissa, which is why coaching at El Rancho is so special. Pico Rivera is the city where her grandparents made their home and raised their family.

“This community is an important part of my family history, and it is incredible to have the opportunity to coach and serve the students at El Rancho High School in that same city. Being raised by a strong Mexican woman, my mother has shown me that women can do anything. I carry that with me always.”

Melissa’s family has always been supportive in her coaching journey and understand coaching is her passion. Watching her mom and seeing how dedicated she was to volunteering and participating in different programs inspired Melissa to do the same in her coaching career.

As a coach, Melissa pours her passion into building a program for her athletes and showing them what is possible and how they can accomplish anything when they work together. She loves getting to put together the puzzle that is a cheer routine by piecing together each individual’s strengths.

The most rewarding aspect of coaching for Melissa is seeing her team succeed both on and off the mat.

“It has been incredible to see these young women transform into not just amazing athletes, but strong academic performers and overall, just good human beings. I see it with my team now, how they celebrate each other successes and support one another in such a positive way. I truly believe that young women need that, and to be able to help build and foster that type of environment has been very rewarding.  But that is not my accomplishment, it is theirs. I am there to help bring it out of them, and to continue moving the program in that direction.”

Melissa Lescano takes on each day as a perfect example of a role model and someone to look up to for her team and community.