Senior Devon Potts made the decision to become a cheerleader along with three of his peers, Ruvim Yerokhim, Kyle Rogers, and Drew Forman.  Cheer has strengthened Potts in more ways than one.  “Each time I hit a stunt I have to prepare myself knowing fully well that there is a big chance it could go wrong,” Potts said.

“Once during a home football game I was really nervous and I wasn’t quite ready for my stunt, so I ended up dropping my flyer too early. Thanks to my spotters we were both okay but I never want anything like that to happen again. It was not only embarrassing but also really scary,” Potts said.

Being a male cheerleader requires more than just physical strength, it also tests mental toughness. Performance pressure in front of almost 2,000 students at assemblies and even more folks on Friday nights has taken a toll.  “Most importantly, cheer has definitely strengthened my character,” he said.

Stunts test Pott’s physical strength and balance. “I like to think about each step of the stunt before I perform it so I can be sure to do my absolute best,” he said.

Standing in front of the school during assemblies and stunting with the flyers was a confidence boost. Many face some degree of stage fright, however with time big crowds have become almost natural to all the cheerleaders. Self assurance gained strength as his performances have increased.