A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

     During his time at Southside, junior Coen Browning, has been an active member of the varsity and competition cheer team. Browning started on the freshmen team, then advanced to varsity, but has served on the competition team throughout the past three years. 

     “I started cheering in eighth grade at Chaffin, but was in tumbling classes since I was five years old. I have always loved tumbling, and I knew that cheer was the place to use the skills I learned throughout my years of practice,” Browning said. 

     The current cheer squad consists of 29 members, and the competition team holds 25 members. On the 29 member squad, 28 members are female leaving Browning to be the only male on the team. 

Throughout their season, the team has made a multitude of appearances at basketball games, football games, pep rallies, community wide events, and a variety of fundraisers. Considering the commitment of the sport, cheer has played a major role in Browning’s life. 

     “Cheer makes me the happiest. I always know that I have full support from my teammates and coaches whenever I need them,” Coen stated. 

     Being on cheer has provided Coen with lasting friendships and support from family and friends outside the sport. He shared that his biggest supporter is his mom, sharing that “she has taken me to tumbling classes for years and has always been so helpful critiquing my skills.”

      Throughout his seasons of cheer, Browning has competed in the UCA National Championship, winning the Game Day Division at the end of the 2023-2024 season. While this is his biggest cheer accomplishment, Browning has also qualified as an All-American Cheerleader since his freshman year.

      “Cheer has gifted me with opportunities to receive such great accomplishments. It wouldn’t be possible without the amazing coaches and teammates that Southside offers,” he stated. 

     Reflecting on his season, Coen shared that cheer has given him the opportunity to step out of his comfort zone and “is the most rewarding and encouraging team” he has ever been a part of. He encourages others to push themselves, explaining that he has pushed himself by going to clinics and classes each year to work on stunting and expand his skills for future opportunities.

     “While I don’t know what the future holds, I am definitely considering the college cheer route, while enjoying my last years at Southside,” Browning said.