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04/05/2018 12:00 AMWhether she’s preparing, competing, or on the sidelines at a game, Kylie Isleib does everything in her power to put forth her best performance for the Morgan cheerleading team. This winter, Kylie’s commitment to her craft paid big-time dividends for both herself and the Huskies. Kylie, a sophomore, helped Morgan take first place at the inaugural Shoreline Conference Championship, in addition to solidifying a spot on the All-Shoreline Conference Second Team.
“To win Shorelines was great, because cheerleading is a sport that people don’t always focus on, so to see us set school records and win titles was special. We had ups and downs this year with injuries, but it was great to see our work ethic pay off,” says Kylie. “It was amazing to make All-Shoreline, because I tried out for it and didn’t expect it. I had to perform in front of others, so I was outside my comfort zone, but I was excited and proud of myself, because the hard work I put in paid off.”
Kylie tried out a few other sports, before becoming a cheerleader when she was in the 7th grade. Kylie says that the family feeling among her coaches and teammates was what made her stick with the sport.
“When I started cheerleading, I felt a connection with the team. I really felt like you were a part of a family, and I could tell my teammates everything,” Kylie says. “It wasn’t like you were friends with them just during cheering. You were friends with them all the time, and I have a great bond with everybody.”
Morgan cheerleading Head Coach Joni Zdunczyk says that Kylie can be her own toughest critic at times, but adds that Kylie is never afraid of any critique, because she knows it will make her a better cheerleader.
“Kylie has an amazing attitude and listens to criticism. Instead of getting down on herself, she will admit she needs to work on something and makes it her business to do so,” Zdunczyk says. “She will then come back solid in that skill, because of her hard work. She also encourages teammates and helps them out without me ever asking her to do so. She may not get something super easy, but she will work to get it.”
Kylie understands that any progress she makes as a cheerleader stems from the effort she puts into it. That’s why Kylie works relentlessly to correct any imperfection in her routine.
“If I don’t get something right away, I’m not the type to quit. I push myself, because I know I can do something better, and I do it to make my coaches proud and to improve myself,” Kylie says. “Learning a skill doesn’t come easy. We work on skills as a team together, so once the other girls get it, it encourages me to do better and help the team.”
As she heads into the second half of her tenure with Morgan cheerleading, Kylie wants to be a leader for the Huskies, while continuing to establish herself as one of the top cheerleaders in the Shoreline Conference.
“I would love to be a captain my senior year. It would mean so much to me. It would also show how my dedication has paid off,” says Kylie. “I would also like to aim for All-Shoreline First Team next year. I’m excited to see what I can do in the future.”