At 5-foot-11, sophomore cheerleader Katie Henderson is determined to be exactly what her squad needs every time she steps onto the mat.
“I hope to take on the role my team needs me to take on for as much success as possible,” Henderson said. “No matter what it is, I will do whatever it takes for the girls.”
She said this year’s group brings a blend of experience and emerging talent. “We are very confident this year, we have a lot of younger girls coming up, and we are gaining experience every day,” Henderson said. “We have a lot of leadership this year with the number of seniors we have.”
That combination has helped the team grow closer on and off the mat. “I think we’ve grown together more as a team so much this past year, no matter if we are at practice or a team bonding event, we are all together,” she said.
The standard the squad has set for itself is high. “To win it all,” Henderson said of the team’s goal. “Early practices, long practices, no matter what it takes, I know we will do. We also hope to learn new skills along the way.”
She believes leadership will be crucial to reaching that goal. “The leadership we have is a huge strength,” she said. “I think the younger girls will really gain from that. I try to be a leader by example to all of my teammates.”
When it comes to routine elements, Henderson embraces difficulty. “I love all things skills!” she said. “I love when there is tumbling, jumps, or stunts. I also love any kind of unusual motions that aren’t used often.”
Her preparation is built around effort and discipline. “At practice, I try to go as hard as I can, so that when I’m on the mat and the adrenaline hits, it will feel like nothing,” Henderson said. “Eating right and drinking lots of water also plays a huge role in my endurance.”
Henderson hopes her character defines how she is remembered at Quinton. “I want to be known as a great cheerleader, but that’s definitely not most important,” she said. “I hope I’m known as the leader who was nice to everyone no matter what. I want my character to be remembered more than anything.”
Katie participates in “cheer, basketball, softball, track and speech.” Though unsure of the future, she has big plans: “I’m not sure what I want to do after high school, but definitely college and finding a career I love.”
