Photo: Morrill Lion Cheer Facebook
Katrina Kohel, a senior at Morrill High School in tiny Morrill, Neb., was determined to compete at the state competition, despite learning that three other cheerleaders quit the team for personal reasons a week and a half earlier,according to theOmaha World-Herald.
Her coach told her they’d still go to the competition and watch more than 2,700 girls and 225 teams in action, but Kohel had other ideas.
With her coach’s help, the determined teen revamped her routine and performed in the Game Day Class D division on Feb. 17.
Despite her mind “going blank” just before her routine, Kohel’s positive attitude carried her through the experience of performing solo before the crowd.
Her dedication soon proved worthwhile: The crowd loudly supported her efforts,her team wrote on Facebook.
Morrill Lion Cheer Facebook
“She did it! What an amazing routine!” the squad wrote. “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.”
The support wasn’t lost on Kohel, either.
“I probably had the loudest crowd involvement there,” she told theWorld-Herald. “Everybody was cheering with me, and it was an amazing feeling.”
And despite not being able to be judged the same as other competitors, she still finished eighth out of 12 squads, which is the highest her team has placed in three years.
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“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.”
source: people.com
