Last Monday, I had the opportunity to sit down with one of the senior cheerleading captains, Kennedy Stovall. Here are some of her reflections on her Country Day cheerleading career and what she is still looking forward as the end draws closer

Q: When did you first start cheerleading for Country Day?

A: I started in 8th grade.

Q: Why did you decide to start cheerleading?

A:  I’ve been dancing since I was three, and I felt cheer and dance went hand in hand, so I thought cheer would be something fun for me to do, and I’ve loved it ever since.

Q: What is your favorite part about cheer?

A: Stunting is really fun; I love that a bunch. I’m a flyer, so it’s fun to do a lot of tricks up in the air. I also enjoying choreographing the routines for the halftimes at the football games; it’s a real fun time, just getting your creative juices flowing.

Q: Are you ever nervous when you get thrown up in the air during a routine?

A:  I’m nervous when we try out new stunts in practice, but then once we get the hang of them, the stunts get really easy, which makes it fun.

Q: Do you have the same cheerleaders throw you in the air every time?

A:  Yes. My bases are Emily Hodnett ’16 and Meredith Berry ’17, my back spot is Gabi Schlegel ’17, and my front spot is Alexis Palko ’15. It’s reassuring to know the same people are with you every time. I definitely have a lot of trust in them.

Q: What goes into choreographing a routine?

A: We have the same formula for our routines. We always have a jump section, a stunt section, a dance section, a tumbling section, and a pyramid. We [myself and the other captains] get to decide where those fall in the routine, and then we sit with each other and the coaches to decide what music we’re going to have. We really plan it out the first day of practice for the week and then we go with it.

Q: What’s your favorite part about cheering during the fall vs. the winter?

A: On Friday nights, I always get a rush, just being on the sidelines under the lights during the game. That’s one of my favorite to do. For me, it’s just a little bit more exciting. Basketball is exciting too, but there’s soccer which is also pretty cold. Overall, I love cheering for Falcon sports.

Q: Are you looking to cheer in college?
A: Possibly, it can be hard to rush and be in a sorority at some colleges, as some colleges don’t even let you, but some let you do. I don’t know, we’ll have to see. That may be something I want to do.

Q: Are you excited about the end of cheer? What are you going to look back on when the year is over?

A: Its going to be bittersweet, mostly bitter. Since fall is over, I definitely remember the last football pep rally and the last Battle of Bryant Irvin game. That’s definitely a moment I’ll remember for a long time. Overall, I’ll just miss my time being at the football games every week and the long bus rides to Houston and Oklahoma; those are always fun. I’ll be sad, but I’m looking forward to cheer competition in December, so it’s not quite over yet. I’ve still got a lot I’m looking forward to.

Q: When/what is that cheer competition?

A: It’s the Dallas Cowboys Spirit Celebration at AT&T Stadium and It’s on December 7th. We won first place in our category last year, so hopefully we’ll win again.