Salina High School senior cheerleader Katelyn Bark has grown into a key leader for the Wildcats, using her voice, work ethic and positive attitude to help set the tone for the program. As captain of the varsity squad, she balances calling cheers with both base and flyer responsibilities while making sure every teammate feels supported.
Bark, a senior, said she draws a lot of her motivation from “Coach Mak,” who constantly challenges her to push her limits.
“She is always pushing me to do harder things and will work with me until I achieve it,” Bark said.
That same drive carries into the classroom, where her favorite subject is AP English and her favorite teacher is Mrs. Brown, who taught her as a sophomore.
On the sidelines, Bark said the best part of cheer is the energy and encouragement that flow through the squad. “All of the positivity all the girls and boy have and the excitement they all have, anyone could be having a bad day and those girls and boy would pick our attitudes right up,” she said.
Much of that chemistry is built long before the school year begins, with the team often logging two- or three-hour practices depending on how routines are coming together.
Cheer has also shaped Bark beyond sports. She said athletics has taught her how to make new friends, uplift people and help resolve problems, lessons she believes will be “very useful for later in life.” In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends or going outside to work on her tumbling.
Bark credits former teammate Hannah Bryant with leaving a lasting impression on her cheer career. She called Bryant “amazing,” describing her as a hardworking, caring and kind person who was always ready to help anyone who needed it.
