Close Ad

After Her Teammates Quit, Brave Cheerleader Makes History and Competes Solo at State Championships
image-17
Uplifting News

After Her Teammates Quit, Brave Cheerleader Makes History and Competes Solo at State Championships

Nothing was going to stop her.

A week and a half before the Nebraska State Cheer and Dance Championships, every single member of the Morrill High School cheerleading squad quit — except one.

The three members, all freshmen, quit due to personal reasons, leaving Katrina, a senior, on her own. While most people would have thrown in the pom-poms, Katrina isn't like most people.


From the moment she saw her first football game as a little girl, she knew she wanted to be a cheerleader. So, she worked hard to make her dream a reality. For four years, Katrina proudly cheered on her school's team, the Morrill High School Lions, in addition to playing basketball, volleyball, and track.

And it had all culminated in this moment, the state cheer championships, her final hurrah. And she wasn't about to give it up.

I've put a lot of time into cheer. It's just always been a part of who I am, so I didn't want to end on that note. I wanted to go out on a high one," Katrina told Insider.

And going out on a high one is exactly what she did.

But she had to jump through a few hoops first.

The Road to the Nebraska State Cheer and Dance Championships

After discussing her plan to go solo with her coach, April Ott, the two got to work revamping the routine into a one-person show. With mere days to go before the competition, they spent hours together, changing up the choreography, removing stunts, and creating new signs.

Finally, the big day arrived.

Dressed in her Lions cheer outfit, Katrina took her place on the competition floor in front of the judges, alone.

But it turns out, she wasn't alone. Word about the solo cheerleader had spread. By the time she took to the floor to perform her 3-minute routine, she had over 2,000 people cheering her on, including competitors and fans from other teams.

RELATED: Young Man Notices 93-Year-Old Woman in Trouble – Helps Her with a Powerful Save

At that moment, every single spectator in the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, NE was a part of the same team — Team Katrina — and they didn't hold anything back. Throughout her entire routine, they joined together as one, cheering right along with her.

And in return, Katrina gave it her all.

Alongside photos of the event on the school's Facebook page, Morrill Lion Cheer, Coach Ott wrote in part:

"She did it! What an amazing routine! Thank you to each one of our cheer friends, family and fans far and near who packed the stands and cheered with Katrina! The crowd was booming with callbacks on her chants and cheers! Her jumps were soaring through the air and her school spirit was contagious."

How a Solo Cheerleader Made History

Image 18 1100x619
(OWH)

Not only did Katrina perform, but she also made history while doing it by becoming the first cheerleader to ever perform solo at the Nebraska State Cheer and Dance Championships. And to top it off, she came in 8th out of 12 squads — the highest the Lions had ever placed.

Now that's something to cheer about.

More than anything, Katrina is just happy she did it. As she prepares to go off to the University of Nebraska to study nursing, and later join the U.S. Air Force, she does so with the confidence of knowing she can tackle anything.

“I feel really proud of myself for knowing I can do it and not giving up,” she said after the meet. “Just getting it done.”

Katrina may not have won the state championship, but she won something far greater: the admiration and respect of her peers. Her determination and bravery were an inspiration to everyone who saw her compete. She is a true champion.

In life, we will all face challenges and setbacks, but it's how we respond to those adversities that define us. Katrina's story is a reminder that we can all find the strength to overcome our obstacles and achieve our goals, even when things seem impossible. With hard work, determination, and a little bit of courage, anything is possible.

KEEP READING:

Homeless Man Tells Stranger It’s His Daughter’s Birthday – Instead of Walking Away, He Helps Plan a Surprise Party

Hot Stories

Why Jennifer Hudson Forgave Her Mother's Killer -- Life Stories By Goalcast

At the peak of her career, Jennifer Hudson faced a horrific family tragedy. Hudson's mother and brother were brutally attacked in their family home, and her seven-year-old nephew was kidnapped. What followed was a heart-wrenching manhunt to rescue her nephew and seek justice against the man who took her family. Hudson speaks from the heart in this video on what happened to her family and how she was able to move forward.

Celebrities
ideas and thinking

bright ideas

The 21st century has brought great new opportunities for entrepreneurs. The digital revolution has completely changed the way we live -- and the landscape for aspiring CEOs and innovators.

powerful-business-woman

Keep ReadingShow less
Entrepreneurs
Sad woman arms on face
woman crying on a beach

While life is beautiful in so many ways, it is also filled with struggles and obstacles. We can’t truly appreciate happiness without experiencing some sort of pain.

Pain is inevitable. No matter how much we try to prevent bad things from happening, life will strike. Maybe you will have to face grief, betrayal or a broken heart. These experiences can tear you down in unspeakable ways. Some of them will cause so much pain that you’ll do anything that comes to mind to avoid it or feel a bit of joy, even if just for a few seconds.

Keep ReadingShow less
Authors