Hi! I’m Karoline H, a junior at Westwood High School and a proud member of the Westwood Cheer Team. I’ve lived in our neighborhood since right before kindergarten, and what I love most is the sense of community. Whether I’m out for a run or just driving through, I can always count on someone to wave. It’s the little things like that that make this place feel like home.

I’ve been cheering for three years at Westwood, and this is my second year serving as our team’s Social Leader. I’m also a base, which means I help lift and support the flyers during stunts. One of my favorite things in the world is cheering on the sidelines during Friday night football games. The energy is incredible—getting the crowd pumped up, watching the band and Sundancers at halftime, and even our tradition of meeting the opposing team’s cheerleaders during the third quarter. It’s all part of what makes being a Warrior so special. ’Sko Wood!

I started cheer in 7th grade after years of dance. I always knew I wanted to be a cheerleader, and once I saw some of my friends at Canyon Vista Middle School doing it, I jumped in. Cheer has brought me my closest friendships and some of my best memories—especially competing at UIL in Fort Worth last January. We practiced for months, and even though I really wanted us to place well, I realized that what matters most is doing it with the people you love. Winning is great, but the team makes it all worth it.

Balancing cheer, school, and other organizations definitely keeps me busy, but I’ve learned to stay on top of it with to-do lists and a lot of organization. Cheer has taught me how to work as a team and that success comes from lifting each other up—literally and figuratively.

To younger athletes: your value isn’t based on your wins. Look for friendships, not just trophies. And always cheer others on, on and off the field.