There is a new girl joining the cheer varsity team and her name is Rachell Williams. Rachell is a freshman and she has made the varsity team after being on JV her middle school years.

Her journey into cheer started two years ago. Rachell says “I knew my teacher, Ms.Pulumbo, was a cheer teacher, that really made me interested in trying out”. She wanted to find comfort and fun out of a sport but she realized cheer had something bigger to offer.

For Rachell to earn her spot she had to go through a four day tryout held after school where the pressure was high. It wasn't just about proving herself by her physical moves but something greater that would guarantee her spot. Rachell says “ You have to have a big smile and pay attention as much as possible. Try your best no matter what.” Even if people are struggling as long as you have a smile and a good attitude you can get through anything.

The transition from JV to Varsity is a big step but Rachell is keeping it real about the challenges that she has to face. While she feels great about the promotion she acknowledges there is a big skill jump to conquer. As a base, the athlete is responsible for lifting the flyers during stunts. She is looking forward to being her support for her team's flyers. Even though the challenge is fun her favorite part of the sport is learning and building on what you already know.

Joining the new team can be intimidating but Rachell already feels at home, since she spent last year on the JV team, she already knew the older girls. Rachell says, “the team is really nice, now I can get to know them even better.” For her cheer is more than just a sport, it is her passion. Cheer allows her to meet new people and improve her skills.