Hold your Horses: Dublin varsity cheerleader doubles as a nationally accomplished equestrian

In her sophomore year at Dublin Coffman High School, cheerleader Autumn Schwanke will soon transition from her football cheering season to varsity cheering on the basketball court. Only in her second year cheering, Schwanke quickly found a knack for the sport, motivated by the “go-go-go” nature of basketball, and the thrill of cheering directly in front of the student section.

“I decided to try cheerleading because I had gone through a couple of sports before, and I loved them, but they really didn’t stick with me,” explained Schwanke. “Also, I had always wanted to be a cheerleader but had never had the guts to go out and do it. Last year around the time
of basketball tryouts I saw the ads posted around school, and thought “Why not?”’

Throughout the school year, Schwanke balances cheer practice for two different seasons, games, and off season lifting with a challenging honors class schedule. The 4.1 GPA student athlete stays sharp with her cheer routines, but also brings her diligent showmanship to another realm: riding hunt-seat.

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For those uninitiated in the equestrian world, Schwanke rides in a traditional style based on English fox hunting, where form, jumps, and communication with the horse are all judged. Schwanke started riding in 2021, now balancing back-to-back seasons of cheer with equestrian training, and riding both weekend days at Elite Stables in Hilliard.

“Twice a week, I have a lesson with my trainer. And that’s an hour. We do everything I will show in – we do our flat stuff and also will jump,” said Schwanke. “For example, getting our horse to listen, and all the little details that we work out when we train. On the weekends I ride by myself, taking everything my trainer taught me and applying it.”

For the past three years, Schwanke has qualified for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Zones. Riding in IEA includes showing and competing in multiple rounds to qualify, including pre season shows and shows at the regional level. In 2024, Schwanke qualified for IEA Nationals in North Carolina, a high honor, earning both a 3rd place and 5th place finish in hunt-seat riding and jumping. Additionally, Shwanke was the 2025 Grand Champion at the All-American Youth Show held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds.

“I do that show every year,” Schwanke told 614Now. “It’s basically a youth version of the Quarterhorse Congress.

Schwanke rides all-year round, often going from a post-school cheer practice to riding. In the mornings, she works to help pay for half of her horse, Jersey (registered name: Just Party). Schwanke is also the current president of the Carousel Riders 4-H Club based out of the Franklin County Fairgrounds, an organization she has been involved with for almost five years.

To balance it all, Schwanke aims to section off her days.

“So, with my job, I work early. So, that is good because I can do that in morning, and riding late at night,” explained Schwanke. “I do school, cheer, then riding. I just kind of like section off my day to my specific things I need to get done.”

After high school, Schwanke plans to attend college and work professionally with horses as an adult. Specifically, she would love to be a vet so she can give back to horses.

For now, she is enjoying two seasons of cheering and representing her school. When asked what her favorite part of cheering is, Schwanke responded:

“My team and being involved in my school. Doing the fun stuff like wearing uniforms to school on Friday, having team meals, and the community of it all.”
This is part of 614Now.com’s weekly student athlete feature. Know of an extraordinary high school athlete on and off the field? Nominate them by emailing editor@614now.com.

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