BREMEN, Ala. — Cold Springs junior cheerleader Jozie Anderson has enjoyed every second cheering on varsity so far and has learned so much during that experience.
“Cheering for Cold Springs has been challenging, but so very rewarding. We put in hours of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. This team has become a family over the past three years I’ve been cheering, and most of these girls I cheered with in middle school and on JV. It’s a blessing that I get to do what I love: be right there on the sidelines and cheer on my school. I’ve been going to Cold Springs since kindergarten, so it’s become a home for me,” Anderson said. “I’ve learned to try your hardest in everything you do, if that’s schoolwork, sports, or just being yourself. Times get hard, even if it’s a stunt that just won’t hit, a cheer that doesn’t sound right, or we just lost a game. You just have to power through it and remind yourself that at the end of the day, you’re here to have fun and support your team.”
Jozie has gotten to cheer alongside some great girls during her career so far and there’s one cheerleader that she always inspired to be like.
“It’s been amazing. The last two years I’ve cheered on varsity, I’ve looked up to some amazing women, but the girl I’ve always inspired to be as good as was Jayden Williams. She was always there to lend a helping hand to whoever needed it,” Anderson said. “If it was a ride to a game or summer practice, or help with a cheer or stunt, she would always go out of her way to help. I hope that I can be like that for the younger girls on the team. I’ve learned that everyone makes mistakes, big and small, and to not sweat over everything.”
She has learned a ton of things from some great coaches during her cheer career and she has seen so much improvement from her performance so far.
“They have all been wonderful. I’ve learned so much from them all and will continue to do so. I will use those lessons in life after school. Not everything they’ve taught me has been about cheer. I’ve grown as a person ever since I started cheering and it’s all thanks to them. From April Burgess, I’ve learned that I am more than what people say I am. From Reilly Hood, I’ve learned to have fun and to not be so uptight, and from Adrian Dickerson, I’ve learned that with hard work and dedication, I can do what I put my mind to, no matter how hard it seems.” Anderson said. “I’ve improved so much. When I started, I was very new to cheering and with the girls I’ve cheered with and the coaches I’ve had, I’ve become more confident in myself in cheer.”
Jozie has improved in one particular thing over the years and has continued to put in the work in the summer and her free time as she prepares for this upcoming season.
“I’ve mostly improved on my stunting. I used to not be able to hardly hold a prep, but through practices, clinics, and workouts with Mrs. Dickerson, I’ve become better at it. I’m most definitely not the best, but I am still continuing to work on it,” she said. “I’ve been working on my confidence and not being scared to go out there and cheer. I’m also working on my strength. If I’m not working or spending time with family, I’m at the gym with my friends.”
She talked about the goals for this upcoming season and what will make this cheer squad special to watch.
“My individual goal is to just be the leader I can be for the younger girls on the team and try and help them the way the older girls did with me when I was in their position. My team goals are to place in county competition, and to just represent our school in the most positive light we can,” she said. “What will make our cheer squad special to watch is our bond. Cold Springs is such a small school, and everyone knows everyone. It’s been like that for most of everyone’s lives since we started school, so it’s not awkward or tense to cheer with these girls, even the younger ones, because we basically grew up going to school together.”
Jozie has learned so much from last year’s cheerleaders and from this year’s cheerleaders.
“Last year’s seniors were amazing. From Jayden Williams, I learned that if you don’t get it right on your first try, you don’t give up. From Mia Light, I learned how important it is to be close with these girls. From Madison Perdue, I learned that you can never be too nice to someone, and from McKinna Duke, I learned that you are a leader to the school, and it’s important to show that,” she said. “Our only senior this year is Kallie Easterwood, and this is her first-year cheering. So far, she has been an amazing teammate and has been learning so fast. I’m so glad she chose to try out. From her, I’ve learned that it’s never too late to learn something new, be passionate about it, and give it your all.”
She talked about her role model in cheerleading, the best advice that someone ever gave her, and what she’s looking forward to the most this upcoming season.
“My best friend, Hali Mavers, has been cheering for All-Stars her whole life. When she started doing school cheer, that’s how we became best friends. I look up to her and aspire to be like her. What stands out to me the most about her is her energy and her skills. She lights up a room whenever she walks in and can make anyone smile. When she comes ready to get in there and stunt or cheer, she’s extremely ready. She’s my best friend in the world and I’m blessed to have her to confide in and to learn from,” she said. “One of my coaches, Reilly Hood, gave me some great advice: ‘Don’t let other people bother you and just be yourself’. I would go to her whenever I had any problems, cheer-related or not. I was lucky to have a coach like her.”
She added,
“This season, I’m looking forward to helping the younger girls learn to represent Cold Springs High the correct way, to help them become great leaders in the future, and to watch our football and basketball teams excel.”
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