13U Coaches

Moriah Sheriff

My name is Moriah Sheriff, and I am so proud and excited to be the new coach of the 10U Marana Thunder cheer team! My cheer background comes primarily from Allstar cheer, where I spent years developing my skills, passion, and love for the sport. While sideline cheer is a new experience for me, I have truly enjoyed learning the differences and adjusting to this new side of cheer. Coaching these girls has already been such a rewarding experience, and I’m excited to continue growing alongside them. As a coach, my goal is to create an environment where every athlete feels supported, challenged, confident, and proud of themselves. I want our girls to learn more than just cheers, jumps, stunts, and dances—I want them to learn teamwork, discipline, confidence, responsibility, and how to encourage one another. I’m so excited to watch this team grow, build confidence, make memories, and shine both on and off the field. I’m grateful for the opportunity to coach these amazing girls and cannot wait to see what this season has in store for our 10U Marana Thunder!

Jaden Avenenti

Hi Thunder family, I am Jaden Avenenti  I have been a coach with Thunder going on my third season and absolutely love this program! I am a Marana high school graduate and love this community with my whole heart! I cheered and danced for 15 years before becoming a coach! I strive everyday to make an impact on our athletes and families through my dedication and passion for the sport! I am excited to be taking on the cheer manager role as well as coaching 12u cheer this season and helping continuing to grow and elevate our program for years to come! 

Melinda Dávila

Coach Melinda is excited to be co-leading the 12U Cheer Team this season! Now in her third year with Marana Thunder and her second year coaching, she brings a background in cheer, coaching, education, and working with children—along with plenty of enthusiasm and a whole lot of heart for the Thunder family.
Melinda’s love for cheer began as a competitive cheerleader in high school. While attending college, she helped coach a freshman cheer team and also volunteered as a beginner tumbling coach. Throughout her college years, she worked in childcare centers, gaining valuable experience supporting and encouraging children at different ages and stages of development.
Her passion for teaching extends beyond cheer. As a longtime violinist, Melinda also taught violin to elementary-aged students, an experience that further strengthened her love for mentoring young people and helping them discover confidence in themselves.
One of the most special parts of coaching this season is getting to share it with her two daughters, who are both athletes on the 12U Cheer Team. Melinda has been married to her husband for 13 years and has built much of her professional career in higher education.
As a coach, Melinda believes cheer is about so much more than learning routines and skills. She is passionate about creating a positive, inclusive, structured, and encouraging environment where every athlete feels valued and supported. Her goal is to help her cheerleaders build confidence, learn the importance of teamwork and accountability, challenge themselves, and—most importantly—love being part of their team.
For Coach Melinda, some of the best victories happen when an athlete realizes she is capable of more than she thought she was. Let’s go, Thunder!

Beth Price

Hi, I’m Beth! I’m a certified Paraprofessional at GFE, wife, mom of three, and proud Head Coach for 14U Thunder Cheer. I’ve been part of the Thunder family for four seasons now, and this is my second season as Head Coach. I love helping athletes build confidence, teamwork, and a love for cheer both on and off the field. As my daughter’s final season with Thunder approaches, I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to coach, mentor, and create lasting memories with this incredible organization. My goal is to help every athlete grow, succeed, and create unforgettable memories along the way!

Shanda Velesko

Hi I'm Shanda a Licensed Massage Therapist for over 20 years ,wife and mother of 2 beautiful teen girls.  My daughter and I have been involved in Thunder Cheer for 5 years . I'm beyond excited to have the opportunity to be Assistant Coach along side an awesome coach to our amazing 14u cheer team. Watching these girls grow into amazing young ladies has been such a blessing . This is our last season with Thunder which honestly makes me sad. I'll truly miss our  Thunder family.