Wesleyan Christian School varsity cheerleader Avery Cobb is used to standing just out of the spotlight, but she knows everything depends on what she does next. As a back spot on the Mustangs’ cheer squad, she carries the quiet pressure of keeping her teammates safe in every stunt.
“In my cheer team I alternate between front spot, back spot and base,” Cobb said. “However, I am mostly a back spot. The toughest part about being a back spot is the pressure. If anything goes wrong in the stunt, it is my job to make sure the flyer does not get hurt.”
That responsibility has sharpened more than her skills. “Being a back spot has heightened my reflexes and has taught me to see when a stunt will fail and which way it will fall,” she said. “I’m currently working on improving my flexibility and my jumps.”
Cobb said what she values most is the bond she shares with her teammates. “I love how close we are as teammates and friends,” she said. “We’re able to talk to each other about what we are struggling with, and we feel comfortable enough to call out each other’s mistakes.”
Representing Wesleyan Christian means more than wearing school colors. “Representing Wesleyan is an opportunity to represent Christ,” Cobb said. “At all of our games, we have the responsibility to be good sportsmen and to be kind when the other team is not.”
Her drive is shaped at home, too. “My older brother is a huge inspiration to me,” she said. “He is an incredibly hard worker and always makes time to be there for his family. He’s a strong Christian and is extremely selfless when it comes to helping others.”
In the classroom, Cobb’s favorite subject is science, and she said her high school history teacher makes learning engaging and enjoyable. She also juggles National Honor Society, student council and the trapshooting team, and she spends her free time outdoors or playing piano, guitar or ukulele.
“Being in cheer has taught me that not everything comes in a couple days,” Cobb said. “In order to achieve what you want, you need to work at it consistently.”
