McKenna Maddock, a senior, has been on Sahuaro’s cheer team all four years and is one of this year’s three team captains. “I love being captain, it’s a different point of view than just being on the team.” She added, “Since I get to do it with my two best friends, it’s a lot of fun.” Sahuaros’ other team captains are Nissie Arellano and Julissa Estrada.
Cheering has been a part of McKenna’s life since elementary school. Although she took a break during middle school, the pull of the sport was strong when she entered high school. “I definitely knew that’s what I wanted to do,” she recalls. “When I went to tryouts, I really hoped, and it all worked out!”
McKenna is always in the center of the cheer team at football games with a big smile and lively expression. Her energy stays high, showing how much she cares about what she does. Cheering for long periods can be tiring, but as McKenna puts it, “At games, specifically, I feel like just the energy of the game in general keeps me going.”
With her extensive cheer experience, McKenna knows how to stay motivated, especially as she approached her senior year. She says, “Knowing that I’d have a senior season,” is what kept her going and focused throughout high school. “I’m really excited for senior night and the crowns and sashes we get and just to experience the whole senior season.”
Cheerleading is often seen as purely fun and a spirited activity, full of excitement, but it also demands a great deal of mental and physical toughness that isn’t always visible to spectators. For McKenna, she says, “I think the most challenging part can be getting along with each other at times when it’s stressful, but we always end up figuring it out.”
When asked about how she feels about the stereotypes that come along with cheerleading McKenna added, “I can see it’s easier than some sports, but I don’t think people do see the side of it that is difficult. It does take a lot of stamina.”
McKenna plans to attend the University of Arizona, where she intends to study radiology. While she hasn’t decided yet if she’ll continue cheering in college, she’s seriously considering it and believes it would be a fun and exciting opportunity.
As McKenna prepares to leave Sahuaro this May, she reflects on her journey as a cheerleader and looks forward to passing the torch to a new generation of students. “Don’t be scared, it’s a great environment, and like as long as you go into it with positive energy… you’ll be just fine!”
