“I Started Bawling My Eyes Out”-Former Cheerleader From Texas Recounts Experience of Fulfilling Her Dream of Competing on the World Stage

From her roots in Texas as a San Angelo Central cheerleader to making her way to the precipice of representing her country at the International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championships, Hailey Smith has come a long way. The cheerleader who appeared in the Netflix show, ‘Cheer’ has earned her spot on the prestigious platform. Having a strong background in gymnastics that she was exposed to at the tender age of 2, Smith’s cheerleading journey started only nine years ago. Despite starting late, she refused to give up on her dreams of showcasing her skills on an international stage adorning the flag of her country. 

Hailey Smith reflected on how cheerleading helped her overcome language barriers!

While Smith was a San Angelo Central senior, her commitment to the cheerleading sport earned her the title of 2020-21 Cheerleader of the Year comprising 5A-6A schools by the Texas Girls Coaches Association. With her extraordinary performance, she triumphed in grabbing the attention of Navarro College and Trinity Valley Community College, the top cheerleading schools.

Following this, she made her appearance in Netflix’s ‘Cheer’ and opted for TVCC which expanded her reach beyond college routines and she adopted the role of an NCA coach. Getting exposure on the international platform helped her to channel her cheerleading talent.   

Smith shared her thoughts about how with her participation in cheerleading, she has connected with people transcending linguistic barriers, “Like for example, team France. I was there this past summer in Paris, and then Chile (and ) Australia… It was just really awesome to have a language barrier and still be able to get through to athletes from different cultures that speak different languages, but we’re communicating through the skills that we do”, as compiled by Go San Angelo. However, Smith’s journey has not been a cakewalk since she had experienced setbacks.

The inspiring journey of Hailey Smith

It was during her first try to enter the national team to represent the US in early 2022, that her failure to get selected shattered her, “I started bawling my eyes out”. At that time, she only had a year of experience and needed a lot of improvement. Within a year after being turned down, her resilience and commitment helped her to secure her dream of placing herself on the US national team.

This has been possible because of her resilience paired with the mentorship of Molly McLeod, the renowned cheerleading coach. Smith honed her skills and concentrated on her development process which set the bedrock for her subsequent successes as she shared her views, “I just make sure that I’m very prepared for every competition as much as I can so I don’t look back and wish I had done something different.” Besides her cheerleading role, Smith is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biomechanical engineering, juggling her commitments between her studies and her passion. 

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Hence, Hailey Smith’s cheerleading journey to earn her place on the world stage epitomizes the pursuit of a dream against all odds. With her unwavering focus and determination, her tales serve as a powerful reminder of the value of perseverance that propels individuals to conquer the heights of their aspirations transcending boundaries.

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