Ava Vandegriffe is a freshman cheerleader. She is one of the few cheerleaders that can tumble, so she would tumble during a floor cheer and when they would call the basketball players’ names. At the age of nine, Ava started to do gymnastics at her old gym, along with practicing at her house. She was sent a survey with questions about her tumbling for cheer.
Ava was asked how she warms up before she starts tumbling, and she said, “I do back stretches and just [have] to throw my tumbling passes.”
She was asked what her favorite stunt is, and she replied with, “The roundoff back handspring.” It is a gymnastics stunt where you use the momentum from a roundoff to get a fast and powerful back handspring.
She was questioned on what was the hardest thing she has ever had to do, and she explained, “During my last months at gymnastics, I was trying to get my back tuck, kip, and step out on the beam. Those were very challenging.”
Ava was then asked how she felt when she tumbled for cheer, and she responded, “Very nervous at first, but once I am finished, I feel relieved.”
Other cheerleaders were asked how they felt when they got to see Ava tumble, and senior Mikayla Maloney said, “I was excited to see her tumble. I was really impressed by what she could do.”
Bernabe Ribera, junior, stated, “I thought it was really cool and impressive that she was able to do these kinds of stunts, especially since we didn’t have anyone that could tumble last year.”
Senior Diana Ribera said, “I thought it was so awesome watching her tumble. Whenever I had to jump or kick, when the basketball players’ names were being called, sometimes I wouldn’t look over at the players but at Ava instead.”
Great job, Ava, for an amazing cheer performance! The cheerleaders can’t wait to see what you can show off for next cheer season!