Spirit Squad

Transcript

Let’s jump over to Gracie, a sophomore majoring in social work and a member of Weber’s Spirit squad. This spring, the team won its sixth straight national championship. Unbelievable. Gracie took the mat with her team. She later found out her ankle was fractured, but tenacity and perseverance in the face of adversity are themes in Gracie’s life and have helped her become a champion. Take it away, Gracie.

– Thank you, Alex. I am a proud Weber state student athlete. Growing up, I watched the cheer team perform and compete and I dreamed of someday being able to wear this uniform but making the team wasn’t easy. In my sophomore year of high school I got really, really sick. I was eventually diagnosed with a severe autoimmune disease. I was told that if my symptoms didn’t get better I was probably going to have to quit cheer. I lost a lot of weight. My joints were swollen. I would go to practice and then go home, cry and sleep all day. After years of treatment, including low dose chemo, we finally figured out what worked but my little inner Gracie wasn’t ready to give up her dreams and I enrolled at Weber State. As cheer tryouts got closer, I worked so hard but got cut my first year. I didn’t give up. I told myself that if I could be a Weber State cheerleader then I could show how much I’ve overcome and that’s what happened. This year, I made the team. Now I am a cheerleader on a division one eight time national championship team. Every time I step on the mats, I pretend like it’s the last because it really could be. Whenever I put on this uniform, it’s a reminder that pain is temporary and I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. The spirit squad emphasizes being more than just a team. We are a family. We train about 10 hours a week, but the work does not stop there. We have weekly bonding activities and study halls. As a team, the phrase we live by is we over me. Our coaches not only focus on making us great athletes but also great students and people. I’ll flip it back to you, Alex

– Gracie, that close family bond you and your teammates have with each other is what makes the spirit squad so special. Weber State Athletics also includes 16 NCAA Division one teams that compete in the Big Sky Conference. Gracie, we are all cheering you and the rest of the squad on to win another championship next year.