All in for all-star cheer

By: Olivia Morris, Contributing Writer

​When the school day ends, most students wrap up their night with homework and after school clubs, but two student athletes stand out from their peers.

For Centralia High School (CHS) junior Natalie Kropf and sophomore Gabby Tucker, high school consists of tests, homework and intense training for all-star cheerleading. These girls compete at high school level cheer and all-star level cheer, meaning they are constantly pushing their physical and mental limits in order to have perfect jumps, stunts and tumbling passes for their routines. 

Kropf and Tucker cheer at All Star Performance Institute (API) in Columbia. They compete with a senior coed level 3 team called Redemption. Both girls dedicate many hours each week to practices, often traveling long distances for competitions. These two have traveled to Indianapolis, Kansas City, St. Charles, Chicago and more. The week of May 9, Kropf and Tucker will make their way down to Orlando, Florida for the D2 Summit competition. If their team makes it to the finals, they will compete for two days. “In Florida we will do lots of team bonding and pool parties. I am extremely excited!” Tucker adds. 

All-star cheerleading has influenced Kropf and Tucker in very positive ways. They have not only gained more physical strength and athleticism, they have gained more confidence and more love for the sport. “Cheering with this team has given me the opportunity to coach one of the younger teams. This has shown me that I love coaching and that I want to continue coaching in the future,” Kropf says. Not only has cheering for API given them improved confidence, it has also brought them out of their comfort zones. Tucker explains, “Cheer pushed me to be my best and I don’t mind being there five days a week. I have loved this season and the friendships I have made along the way.”

Despite the high expectations and long hours, both girls agree that the rewards outweigh the challenges they face. They have built strong connections, gained confidence, and developed leadership skills that carry over into their classrooms, school clubs and more. Whether it is cheering during Friday night lights or on the stage, Kropf and Tucker continue to show that their passion makes anything possible.