At football games, it isn’t just athletes on the field making history. On the sidelines, leading cheers with constant energy, is Angelina Byrd, one of the freshmen cheer team captains. She has experienced many the rough and fun times that come with being a role model.

She started cheerleading around the age of five, with Little Sweethearts, with her mom as the head coach. 

“I later took a break from cheer for roughly five years, and then realized I wanted to try out for Strack Cheer in the end of my seventh grade year,” Byrd said.

With her mother being a former captain as well, she wanted to take on this weight and responsibility to further her confidence, and prove to herself that she could handle such a big responsibility.  

“My first year after my previous break, when I tried out for the upcoming school year, I at times felt out of place, as most of the girls were on the team the year prior, and had already built strong friendships,” Byrd said.

So much is expected of students when they’re involved in a program that deeply, but Byrd says it comes much easier as she has a fellow captain of the freshman squad to always rely on.

“We really balance each other out, I go to her with most of my problems, because I know she can relate,” Byrd said.

She has learned some skills from these exclusive experiences, like being more extroverted, getting out of her comfort zone, to be able to stand up for herself more, and to stay organized as she works on things for the squad and academic matters. 

“The biggest skill though, would probably be determination, and persistence even through tough times,” Byrd said.

Some of the biggest challenges Byrd has experienced are loosing some friendships at times because she has to stick to the rules, and do what is best for the team, even if it isn’t what everyone wants. 

The team’s best interests are always on her mind, and sometimes not every move will make everyone pleased, but at the end of the day she appreciates the position, and always tries to do what’s best by it. 

“I stay grateful for this opportunity to better myself, and hope to better the team.”