For the past 16 years, Summer Creek Cheer has been predominantly girls. In the more recent years, guys have taken an interest in the sport, and to this day, multiple boys are on the team. One of whom, Jayden Gibson, has joined the team in his senior year.

“I transferred here in March to make varsity my first year being here,” he said. “It was a big thing that I looked into. I know I possess leadership skills and seeing that the coaches wanted me to try out, it made me feel positive about moving forward. It’s a big deal for my senior season.”

Head coach Mrs. Crystal Livingston believes that Jayden is a great addition to the team and hopes that he inspires more to join.

“Jayden just commands a room,” Livingston said. “He walks into the room and people pay attention.”

Prior to joining the team, Gibson faced many hurdles on his journey to the cheer program.

“The transition was very late because I already had everything set up for senior year at Cypress Creek, which made the transition a little rocky due to me having to jump in and learn all new materials,” he said.

As a senior, Jayden values leaving his mark on the cheer program as one of the few boys on the team. Gibson’s flyer, senior Kinsley Mollohan, speaks of the doors being opened with the new addition of boys, including Gibson. 

“I feel like it’s giving more opportunities for stunting,” she said. “We’re able to do more co-ed and have more variety for games days. We’ve also moved up divisions for competition with the boys on the team.”

As the upcoming football season approaches, family-like team bonding is at the top of Jayden’s list of priorities. 

“I really want to make the team more like a family,” he said. “I know that a lot of people go through cheer, and it’s a lot of different energies. Whenever we come together, we’re all as one.”

To kick off the season, the Bulldogs will face off against the Shadow Creek Sharks at Freedom Field, where you can see the beginning of what’s more to come.