Marquette High School Cheerleading
Home of the Mustangs
Meet The Coaches
ELIZABETH BASTA
HEAD VARSITY COACH
EMAIL: BASTAELIZABETH@RSDMO.ORG
Coach Basta has 20+ years of coaching experience. She has dedicated herself to the sport of cheerleading and to the athletes who make it great. A lifelong cheerleader herself, she cheered through Pop Warner, All-Stars, High School, and College before transitioning into coaching at her alma mater in Florida. Coach
Coach Basta moved to St. Louis in 2009 and rejoined the coaching world in 2014 at Marquette High School, where she has had the privilege of watching this program grow and be successful. From winning state titles and placing in the top finals for Traditional and Game Day at the National Level. This is her second year as the Head Marquette Cheerleading Coach, where she is excited to continue building on that growth and bringing the blue and green spirit to our community. In addition to coaching, she is a teacher at Marquette; her department is called the IAC, which houses Missouri Options, SRP, 504, and Students with Academic Support.
Her husband, who is a Marquette alumnus and one of the varsity baseball coaches. They have two kids whom they have raised loving sports. Blakleigh is a 1st grader, and Braxton is a 7th grader; both will eventually attend Marquette High School. The Bastas are a Big Marquette family! When she's not on the sidelines or in the classroom, you'll find her on the ball field, working at Mulligans, where she has worked for 14 years, gardening, or simply spending time with her family. She makes it a point to head back home to Florida often to visit family, rest, and recharge. She is a proud Gator Fan (Go Gators!). The energy and passion she has for the Florida Gators is the same spirit she brings to the Marquette Community and Cheer Program! ~ It's a Great Day to be a MUSTANG!
EMILY CLARK
VARSITY COACH
EMAIL: CLARKEMILY@RSDMO.ORG
Coach Novak has been involved with cheerleading for 20 years, both as an athlete and a coach. She cheered throughout middle and high school and eventually went on to cheer at the collegiate level.
Throughout college, she coached at her Alma Mater, Affton High School, and eventually went on to coach at UMSL, and then Marquette, where she has been coaching for the past 6 years.
In addition to coaching, Novak works as a 6th-grade teacher at Selvidge Middle School (go Stallions!). In her free time, she enjoys reality TV, puzzles, and crafting!
ISABELLE BRAY
JV COACH
EMAIL: BRAYISABELLE@RSDMO.ORG
Coach Bray, has been coaching for two years and is a proud Marquette Cheerleading alumna who cheered all four years and loved every minute of it. She was a member of the 2019 State Championship team and part of the first Marquette team to advance to Finals at the National High School Cheerleading Championship, where they placed 14th in the nation. This program truly holds a special place in her heart.
Coach Bray graduated from the University of Missouri (Mizzou) in 2024 with a degree in Mass Media Communication. After college, she worked in software sales and is now pursuing a career in education.
Cheerleading taught her discipline, perseverance, and what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself. Coach Bray is grateful for the opportunity to give back to a program that has meant so much to her.
As Coach Bray says, “Once a Mustang, always a Mustang!”
PAIGE HARTMAN
JV COACH
EMAIL: HARTMANPAIGE@RSDMO.ORG
Coach Hartman has been coaching for two years and is a proud Marquette Cheerleading alumna from the Class of 2020. During her time as an athlete, she was part of the 2019 State Championship team and helped lead Marquette to a 14th-place finish at High School Nationals.
She attended the University of Missouri (Mizzou), where she studied Business Administration/Management and Psychology. Coach Hartman now works for her family-owned business, Subzero Logistics and Cold Storage Warehousing, alongside her father. She and her brother hope to one day take over and continue growing the business together.
Coach Hartman has a deep love for cheerleading and is passionate about giving today’s athletes the same incredible experience she had in the program, and even better.
Go Mustangs!