Leeds High School’s senior varsity cheerleaders are, from left, Caitlin Frederick, Caitlin Wilmas, and Alexis Oden.

Caitlin Wilmas

Parents:  Yvonne and Jerry Wilmas.

Why she enjoys cheering:  “Because you get to meet new people and become friends with them.”

Her history with the sport:  She began at age 5 in Leeds’ youth leagues.  She’s been a member of the varsity squad since she was a freshman and currently serves as captain.

Does she agree or disagree with those who don’t consider cheering a sport?  “I disagree.  They don’t realize how much work cheerleaders do to get ready for games and how much time we put in behind the scenes.”

A special recognition:  She’s in Manhattan this week to perform with Universal Cheerleading Association in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Other varsity sports:  Soccer.

Other school activities:  FCCLA, FBLA, and Mu Alpha Theta.

Her favorite subject:  Math.

After high school:  She plans to attend UAB.

Caitlin Frederick

Parents:  Eric Frederick and Jennifer Phillips.

How long she’s been cheering:  “Since I was six or seven.”  She joined Leeds’ varsity squad as a freshman and currently serves as co-captain.

What she enjoys most about it:  “The feeling of being out on the track and getting the fans and students involved.”

Its biggest challenge:  “Being in charge.”

What most people don’t realize about cheerleaders:  “We put a lot of time into what we do.  Preparing for pep rallies and learning our dances and cheers is a lot of work.”

Her favorite subject:  English.

After high school:  She plans to study for a career as a neonatal nurse, “but I don’t know where I want to go yet.  Somewhere in Alabama.”

 

Alexis Oden

Parents:  Tambra Williams and Kevin Oden.

The best part of cheering:  “Being able to interact with other cheerleaders and getting to know them on a more personal level and having fun.”

A major challenge:  “As a co-captain, the underclassmen look up to us.  It’s hard to tell them they’re doing something wrong without being too mean.  I feel bad about it sometimes, because I want to be a good friend and leader.”

A misconception about cheerleaders:  “That we’re only concerned with how we look.  We care about our community and the players.  We condition just like any other sport, and we put in a lot of time behind the scenes to get ready for pep rallies and games.  We do a lot.”

Other school activities:  FBLA, FCCLA, National Honor Society, Peer Helper, Quill and Scroll, Art Club, Mu Alpha Theta, and Heritage Panel.

Her favorite subject:  English.

After high school:  She plans to attend the University of Alabama to study criminal justice and train to be a crime scene investigator.  “That’s my dream.”