VYPE: How does it feel to be chosen as a freshman captain?
HJ: Being chosen as captain while only being a freshman feels great. I am so glad I was given this opportunity. It has given me such an amazing feeling, and I am proud of myself for accomplishing that. It is a goal of mine that I am forever grateful to have achieved. I love supporting my teammates and I’m honored my leadership and dedication to this team has been recognized. I’m looking forward to seeing this team grow throughout the next four years.
VYPE: Who has been your favorite coach throughout your career and how did they impact you as a player?
Hayden Jackson: My favorite coach out of my cheer career would be Coach Mason. She impacted my life by pushing me to be my best and I have definitely improved from being on her team.
VYPE: Did you have any teammates that you admire or that supported you?
HJ: Yes. I have a teammate that I admire very much. Her name is Sophie, who is also a freshman, and she has supported me a lot. She encourages me to try my hardest, even if it’s difficult and that helps incredibly. She also supports me with my other activities, and she is always at my events to cheer me on.
VYPE: Who was your favorite teacher and how were they influential in your life?
HJ: Out of my school years, my teacher Mr. Lopez is my favorite. He is my band teacher this year and he helps out a lot. He influences me to be the best I can and to always try my best. He pushes me to be a great individual. He is a wonderful teacher, and I am very thankful I have him during my high school years. For example, immediately after cheer camp, I was worn out and then started summer band. I didn’t think I would be able to carry all this weight of being in multiple activities and I was ready to quit band. Mr. Lopez helped encourage me to keep going. He saw the potential in me that I didn’t see. This helped a lot and I’m very glad he helped me get through it because now my season is going great.
VYPE: What preparation have you taken this off-season to better equip yourself for the upcoming season?
HJ: I have used this season to improve my skills in cheer. I’m trying to improve my jumps by stretching. I have also been putting in work to be able to do flips like backhand springs and front punches. I have gotten close to these things, and I think if I keep doing what I am doing, I will get there soon.
VYPE: What has your sport taught you that you use in your daily life?
HJ: My sport has taught me to never give up. Even when things get hard, I know that if I want something that bad, I should not give up because it is difficult. If I want something, I will go after it and keep doing that until I achieve my goal. That is what cheer has taught me during this season.
VYPE: What do you hope to accomplish or have accomplished this season?
HJ: I hope as an individual I get my tumbling skills down. Being able to flip has always been a dream of mine and this year I am going to push myself to accomplish that goal.
VYPE: What matchup are you most looking forward to this season?
HJ: This year, I was really looking forward to our game day competition but unfortunately, we have had to make many changes and we are no longer competing in it. It would’ve been really great to have gone but now I have the chance to improve my skills throughout this year and better myself for next year and the years to come.
VYPE: What are your plans after high school?
HJ: After high school, I plan to attend NYU. That is my dream college and I hope to be able to experience that dream. After college, I would like to start a career of being an orthopedic surgeon. I want to be able to work at the hospital and if I have time for it, be at least an assistant coach for a cheer team. I love cheer and I would love to be able to help other people out who love it as much as I do.
