Staff

Maria Wacker
Co-Owner/Founder
Head Coach - Senior Team

Maria has been active in cheerleading, dance, gymnastics, choreography, coaching and judging for the past 20 years. Her cheerleading experience includes High School and All Star levels. She was a member of the 1997 NCA National Champion team, Cheer Elite All Stars, and is a former UPA All Star. Her dance experience includes Studio, High School, All Star and Collegiate levels. She was a member of the 1997 NCA National runner-up team, Dance Elite All Stars, and was a choreographer for her collegiate dance team at The University of Wisconsin - River Falls. Maria was a finalist for the 2003 Minnesota Vikings Dance Team, has choreographed for various high schools, and is the head dance choreographer for The Southwest All Stars. Her gymnastics experience includes the High School Varsity level, and she regularly judges cheer and dance competitions at the State and National level. Maria is an active member of the Minnesota Cheerleading Coaches Association (MCCA,) the US All Star Federation (USASF) and is a UPA Certified Judge. She is a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a BS in Marketing Communications and is currently pursuing a Master's of Business Administration from Augsburg College. Maria is in her 8th year as Owner/Founder/Head Coach of the Southwest All Stars and lives in Eden Prairie.

Kristal Amberg
Co-Owner/Founder

Program Director

Kristal has dedicated over 15 years to Cheerleading and was a very accomplished cheerleader. From 1993-1996, she cheered for her competitive and sideline cheer teams at the varsity level, earning many awards and recognitions. She lead her team as a Captain to the State Title and were UPA Nationals Finalists. Kristal was chosen by the Minnesota All State Team both in 1995 and 1996.

Kristal continued her love for cheer in college and was a Minnesota Vikings Stunt Team finalist both in 1996 and 1997. She spent the next six years coaching many teams and age groups from Youth/JV to Varsity, which included providing choreography and organizing and instructing camps for her team, as well as others in the surrounding communities. Kristal led her Varsity team to State and Nationals titles.

Kristal regularly judges tryouts for other Minnesota teams, as well as state and national competitions. She is an active member of the Minnesota Cheerleading Coaches Association (MCCA) and the US All Star Federation (USASF.) Kristal is also serving as MCCA All Star Coordinator. Kristal is in her 8th year as Owner and Founder of the Southwest All Stars. She lives in Hutchinson with her husband, Damian and their three children; MiKayla, McKenna and Kaeden.

Kara Robinson
Head Coach - Youth and Junior Teams

This is Kara's 4th year with the Southwest All Stars, but she has been involved with cheerleading for the past 13 years. She cheered all four years of her High School career on the sideline and competitive cheer teams at Hutchinson High School. During these four years, Kara was a 2-year member of the Minnesota All State team, Honor's team, a UPA All Star, voted Captain her Junior and Senior years, along with numerous 1st place finishes. Out of college, Kara began volunteering with her former Hutchinson team, and choreographing and judging for numerous schools in the surrounding area. Kara has taught cheerleading to all age groups through Hutchinson and Southwest Minneapolis Community Education programs. She has served on the Minnesota Cheerleading Coach's Association and as a Co-Coordinator of the Minnesota All-State team. Kara spent 3 years coaching at Totino-Grace High School, where her competitive team took first in 2007 at the Minnesota State Competition and in the top 3 all three years at Nationals. Kara has over 20 years of dance and gymnastics experience. She graduated in 2006 from the University of Minnesota, with a degree in Elementary Education. She currently resides in Apple Valley.

Alisha Gretenhardt
Head Coach - Mini Team and Assistant Coach - Youth Team

Alisha is the newest member of our coaching staff and is in her 2nd year as coach of the Mini and Youth teams. Alisha was an integral member of her high school competitive cheer squad for four years and represented them as captain. Her team was the Wisconsin All-Star Team "Down Under Bowl" champions as well as Regional Champions. Alisha competed with her teams at UCA Nationals every year of her involvement, where they placed very well. Alisha graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2003 with a major in Retail Buying and Managment and a minor in Business and lives in Minneapolis.