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Dec 28th, 2012 - 02:44:52 |
For many athletes, the love of their sport starts at a young age. That's the case with BCHS senior Kristin Mullis. Mullis, a four-year member of the Royals competition cheerleading squad, got interested in the sport early on.
"When I was little, I'd go with my aunt to watch my cousin cheer," Mullis recalled. Mullis had family who cheered for Dodge County High School's competition squad. On that same squad was Jessica Brown, who's served as a community coach.
Mullis also had a cousin to cheer for the BCMS competition squad, Brooke Giddens. Mullis said Giddens would demonstrate cheers for her. Seeing family members cheer helped fuel Mullis' own interest and led mom Stacy Jarrell to enroll her in gymnastics.
After winning a region title and runner up finish her two years as a Baron, Mullis moved on to high school. She admitted to being nervous because of "being new" and having older girls with more experience. "It's just kind of intimidating to be the underdog coming up," Mullis said.
Despite being an "underdog", Mullis would go on to a great career. She was selected to the 3-AA All Region team her Junior year. That was the second of three straight region titles. That second region title was a favorite memory because, in her words, they were the underdog that year.
"We thought it was gonna be a rebuilding year," Mullis recalled because of a strong senior class that had graduated. "For us to come back and win region, nobody was really expecting that."
This year has also had its share of memories for Mullis. One of them came at the Halloween CheerDawg Classic hosted by Mary Persons High School. Mullis had the flu that week.
That in itself would be a challenge. It was magnified because Mullis was in the air as a flyer. She was so sick that she missed Friday's football game and rode with Jarrell to the school that morning to ensure that no one else got it.
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| Despite having the flu, Mullis was able to do things like pull this scorpion at the Halloween CheerDawg Classic. |
However, Mullis stuck every stunt, and managed to do everything required of her in the routine. She recalled telling Jarrell that she was ok all the way up there. It wasn't until after they got home that she admitted to not being ok. Mullis knew she'd have to assure Jarrell she was able to go, otherwise "She wouldn't take me up there."
Mullis recalled smiling while performing to fight back tears because of being in so much pain and called it "One of the most difficult things I've ever done." Where did she find the energy? "For my team. I wouldn't have done it if it weren't for those girls."
She added she loves doing it (competing.) Sickness isn't the only thing Mullis has had to contend with. Many of the competition cheerleaders also do game squad. That meant games on Friday's, then traveling to a competition the next morning. While saying it was tiring, especially on nights with away games, Mullis said she loved being on the sidelines to cheer on the team.
Though GHSA season is over, Mullis is still competing. She's a member of the Middle Georgia All Stars coached by former Royals lay coach Jimmy Redus. Mullis is one of several current and former Royals to do All Star cheerleading including Tori Floyd, Katie Burton, and Anna Claire Evans.
Mullis said while taking a college prep class with Evans, she met someone who worked for Redus. He helped them with co-ed stunting. Of course, Redus also remembered what Mullis did with Bleckley. She said she hadn't planned to try out until getting a text from Redus saying "You are coming to tryouts aren't you?"
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| A different shade of purple. Mullis in her Middle Georgia All Stars uniform. (Photo credit: Facebook) |
Mullis says she enjoys All Stars. Differences between it and GHSA competition include the number of squad members (22 vs 16) and the way teams are classified. "With All Stars, they divide you up by levels," she explained. The level signifies skills. For example, she said her squad was level 4. That includes being able to perform layouts.
Unlike GHSA where skill levels often vary based upon location even in the same class, all star squads were more evenly matched. Mullis though said she prefers GHSA competition because "I know it better. I've been doing it longer."
Mullis is also working as an assistant for a 5-6 year old All Star squad at TumbleCheer Georgia. The Perry gym is owned by Daniel Satterfield, who's taught tumbling to many BCHS cheerleaders. Mullis said it was "very challenging" simply because of the difficulty of keeping the attention of children that young. Especially because of other things (IE: tumbling classes) happening at the same time.
The children have to be taught basics such as motions. Mullis is one of two assistants. She was asked by Satterfield about helping out in the future while attending gymnastics. Her first experience came a few weeks ago when he called and asked her to help out because three of his normal staff were out.
While the first day was hectic, Mullis said things had settled down since then. For years, a goal of hers had been to cheer at UGA. However, they don't offer a nursing program. So Mullis will be applying to Mercer University, and of course, hopes to cheer there.
Several BCHS cheerleaders have gone on to cheer at the college level including Misty Heath, Amber Raley, and Heather Davis. Mullis said Heath was a big influence on her. Mullis was a freshman when Heath was a senior. Mullis said Heath was tough on her and made sure she did was she was supposed to. She gives Heath credit for helping her develop.
Mullis encourages those interested in cheerleading to get into gymnastics. She also stressed the need to work hard, adding she felt cheerleaders worked just as hard as anyone else at their sport. Plus, she said "you have to want it."
Mullis wishes the best to next year's squad. Though going to college, she won't be leaving her high school cheer life behind completely. She said she would attend some competitions and games and hopes to be able to visit practice and help out.
"I'm not ready to let go of that part of my life. It just came too fast and ended too quickly." As much as anything, Mullis' desire to still come around comes from just how much she still does and always will care about the squad.
"I love those girls more than anybody. They have a special place in my heart. They always will."
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2009 by BleckleyProgess.com
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