Featured Athlete: Katie Stephenson
Sport: Cheerleading | Grade: 12
With most sporting events lasting no layer than 3 hours, the UIL competition is a 12 hour day. “It includes waking up to get ready, hair, makeup, uniform, then heading to school to get on the bus and head to the location of the competition,” Eder said.
Wingspan: What’s your favorite part about cheer?
Stephenson: “Competitive, probably competitions, because we don’t have them very often, and school, the people on the team.”
Wingspan: What is different about school cheer and competitive cheer?
Stephenson: “ School cheer is more about spirit and having fun with your team then competitive is skilled based.”
Wingspan: When did you start cheering?
Stephenson: “Fifth grade.”
Wingspan: What made you decide to want to cheer?
Stephenson: “I was a gymnast my whole life and then I got tired of gymnastics so I started doing cheerleading.”
Wingspan: What do you think about the controversy over whether or not cheer is a sport?
Stephenson: “In my opinion it’s hard but don’t really care what other people think.”
Wingspan: What’s the most difficult thing about cheer?
Stephenson: “Full out.”
Wingspan: What are your future plans for cheer? Do you plan to continue in college?
Stephenson: “Not as of right now but I’m going to Texas Tech so plans might change.”
Keegan ‘KEEG$’ Williams, is a senior and Editor-in-Chief for Wingspan. She likes to partake in many activities such as watching Youtube and talking...