You’ve been involved in cheer since before high school; how did this early experience
prepare you for making varsity sophomore year?
I’ve been cheering for as long as I can remember. Having cheerleading experience prior to high school made me more prepared skill-wise and taught me how to communicate with my team as both a teammate and a leader. Starting early helped me to feel more prepared and confident going into tryouts as a freshman as well.
Cheerleading takes a lot of commitment and dedication; what motivates you to keep pushing yourself year after year?
The feeling that cheer gives me under stadium lights with crowds roaring keeps me motivated. I love stunting, dancing, and keeping up with the traditions Cathedral has, which all keep me coming back every year. However, I’m also driven by the desire to improve every year and push past my personal best.
Being on varsity for the past few years means you’ve grown alongside the team; how have you seen yourself change as both an athlete and a leader?
As an athlete, I’ve learned to overcome mental blocks and as a leader, I’ve grown by stepping up to motivate the team by sending out reminders, positive affirmations, and even small things like bringing extra pom-poms to events in case someone forgot theirs.
Cheerleaders are often the heartbeat of school spirit; what does it mean to you to represent your school at games and events?
It’s a huge honor to represent my school at games and events. There’s always pressure to perform well and to stay positive and smiling all the time, but I think it’s really rewarding to be part of the energy that rallies the crowd and the team.
Game days are always full of excitement; what is your game-day ritual you do to get yourself ready to perform?
After school, I change into my uniform, fix my hair and makeup, and eat with my team. Then we load the bus and listen to music all the way there. Once at the game, I take care of any injuries with tape and prewrap, warm up, do some tumbling, and review our cheers before we hit the field.
