I was never supposed to be a cheerleader.
At least that’s what some people told me.
I’m a guy, after all.
When I tumbled and stunted, I was told it wasn’t my place.
For a while, I believed them.
Not anymore.
Throughout my journey, I realized sometimes you just have to say “F you” to the criticism.
Screw the status quo. It’s boring anyway.
I’m a cheerleader. I love competing.
And I wouldn't give it up for anything.
I’ve chosen to embrace my sport.
In doing so, I’m embracing myself — and my crazy passion for competing, stunting, and traveling the world with my teammates, and trusting them and all the other opportunities I could’ve missed out on.
Cheerleading has taken me to the Ohio State University where I get to be a D1 athlete, and it sparked my brand on social media where I can share my experiences to encourage others.
Embracing cheerleading helped me create a space for others to embrace themselves.
All that to say, I’m not sure what you want to do or who you want to be in this world, but I hope my story gives you the courage to pursue it.
Flipping Beginnings
Growing up, I kind of saw my life through the lens of an action-packed adventure movie.
Major main character energy.
I dreamed about being a WWE superstar.
Put me in the ring, jumping from the top ropes into the crowd, flipping and doing all the cool tricks.
To support my dream, I asked my parents for a trampoline.
As I practiced, I realized I wanted to learn how to do backflips and twists — all on command.
So my parents signed me up for a cheer and gymnastics gym.
I learned how to land a backflip, and I realized I had the strength for this.
When I got back to school, the cheer coach kept recruiting me.
They visited me at football practice and told me about this “class just for boys” who wanted to “do sick tricks” and “no cheerleading.”
Imagine my surprise when I showed up to find 30 girls tumbling, dancing, and throwing each other around in baskets.
At first, I thought I was in the wrong place. But my coach quickly assured me I was right where I was supposed to be.
And I was.
Flash forward a few years, and I’m still obsessed.
Cheerleading gives me an adrenaline rush.
Hitting zero during a routine doesn’t happen without having insane trust in your teammates.
I’ve created lifelong bonds with my stunt groups.
We’ve trained together and supported each other through all the trials and tribulations.
When I first went to the gymnastics club, I had no idea it would lead me here, to cheering at a D1 program as respected as Ohio State, surrounded by some of the best humans and coolest teammates, but I’m so grateful it did.
I’ve gotten to soak in so many surreal experiences, like winning Worlds in 2022 with Top Gun TGLC.
That was one of the most defining moments in my career.
It was the epitome of trust — trusting in God, trusting in my teammates, and trusting in myself.
It’s a moment I’ll never forget, and one that motivates me to this day.
In the end, cheerleading allows me to be myself.
Overcoming Criticism
Throughout my life, I’ve been fortunate enough to have parents and friends who have always supported and encouraged me to follow my passions and be myself.
But, unfortunately, not everyone has been as supportive.
As a male cheerleader, I faced a lot of bullying and hate throughout my life.
I played football and basketball growing up.
When I’d drop a pass or miss a shot in basketball, people would call me derogatory words or tell me to “stick to the sparkles.”
I ignored them.
I committed to the “sparkles” because I realized I was sick of letting others dictate how I can compete.
Their doubt ignited my fire and motivated me to train harder and push myself further to do what I love.
In high school, people questioned why I didn’t want to go to a D2 or D3 school for lacrosse or another sport.
Where’s cheerleading gonna get you?
All the way to Ohio State, baby.
Creating My Personal Brand
Now that I’ve learned some of the ropes, both in collegiate cheer and how to conquer criticism, I’ve started sharing my story and experiences online to help others along the way.
I like creating behind-the-scenes cheer content and videos with wellness and meal prep tips to help out other college athletes and students.
I love creating and connecting with my audience, but let me tell you, it has not been an easy process.
I have always been a people pleaser.
I want to be liked and accepted by others, and I’ll go out of my way to make sure that I don’t do anything to upset or offend anyone.
At first, I wanted to craft “perfect” content so everyone interpreted it in the same light.
It took me a long time to surrender that control.
People are going to look at your posts and think whatever they think.
The only thing that matters is whether you’re representing yourself authentically.
And post consistently.
As someone who’s a visionary and has severe ADHD, I’ve learned it’s super important to create a plan.
I try to plan out all the content details and execute it on schedule.
Otherwise, I get lost.
If you want to grow your own personal platform, or honestly succeed in life in general, know the ingredients for your sauce so you don’t get lost in it.
At the end of the day, I hope my cheerleading career, social media and life inspires others to bet on themselves and their dreams.
Sometimes you just have to dismiss the doubt and go after what you want.
You deserve it.
