Hall of Fame
Beginning as a member of the Fairmont State College Cheer Team in 1979, Kiefer later led the Falcons to the 1995 UCA National Championship and 2010 NCA National Championship, along with WVIAC Conference Championships in 1993-99 and 2001.
Kiefer was one of five founding coaches who helped establish collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling in 2010 and served as Fairmont State’s head coach from 2010-20. She earned NCATA National Coach of the Year honors in 2012 and 2019, while leading the Falcons to their first Mountain East regular-season and conference championships in 2019 and earning MEC Coach of the Year honors. Her pioneering efforts helped advance the sport to NCAA Emerging Sport for Women status in 2020 and ultimately NCAA Championship Sport status in 2026.
Kiefer’s contributions to the sport were recognized with the NCATA Founders Award at the 2026 National Championship. Her legacy at Fairmont State was further honored with the establishment of The Kristi Kiefer Acrobatics and Tumbling Classic, first held February 7, 2026, cementing her lasting impact on the Falcons and the growth of women’s collegiate athletics.
