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Emery Has It All Together

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By CLIFF GILL

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 9, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - According to Cheer Leader Magazine, the sport as we know it began at a Princeton University football game in the 1880s. As interest in sports grew, so did the popularity of cheerleading.

Last year, the state offered high school cheerleading teams the chance to compete at the district, regional and state levels for the first time. In the small coed varsity division, the Land O' Lakes Gators captured the state crown.

Coach Celisa Cook credits senior base Aerial Emery for much of the team's success.

"I have had the honor and privilege to coach Aerial for four years," Cook said. "She always comes to practice with a smile on her face and encourages others with her words and her actions at practice. She exhibits great motivation and pushed herself to obtain a back handspring and a standing back tuck. These are great feats in cheerleading. Our team is very united because of team members such as Aerial."

One of the keys to success in cheerleading is precision. Routines are repeated hundreds of times.

"Our routine may be only 21/2 minutes long, but everyone must do it together," Emery said. "If one person is off, it throws the entire team off. We have to make it look easy, doing several things simultaneously - tumbling, cheering, flying - all the time smiling. We train for several months June-March going over the same movements over and over."
Emery started cheerleading as a seventh-grader.

"I liked the dancing, the tumbling and the sense of accomplishment," she said. "Cheerleading is intense. It requires incredible cardio endurance and strength. Plus, cheerleading is a bonding sport. My teammates and I are close, and many of us have been cheering together for years. We're all dedicated and want to win."

According to Cook, Emery's dedication and desire to win were clear.

"Her willingness to perform a specific stunt in a position she was not too comfortable with helped us hit the routine," Cook said. "Her attitude is unselfish and her team spirit is exemplary."

In addition to cheerleading, Emery is a four-year member of the varsity track team. She runs the 100-meter dash and the 4x100 relay.

Participating in multiple varsity sports often causes a student's grades to suffer. Emery, on the other hand, excels in the classroom. Her grade-point average of 4.16 ranks 15th out of 247 seniors. She is taking Advanced Placement classes in government, English literature, calculus and physics. In her junior year, she received straight A's and was selected to the all-academic team (minimum 3.5 GPA and a member of two or more varsity sports). She is a National Honor Society member, treasurer of the National English Honor Society, a National Society of High School Athletes member and is listed in Who's Who of High School Athletes.

"Aerial is in my AP English Literature class, and I have watched her develop more comfort with her approach to analytical issues in literature," said David Berger. "Not one to shy away from a challenge, she approaches every situation the same way - with great fervor and curiosity. As an officer in the National English Honor Society, she always offers suggestions on how she could help build our chapter and get more involved in the community. I have the utmost respect for her work ethic, integrity and mature outlook. Without a doubt, she will make an indelible impression on the world. I can't wait to see how and when."

Math teacher Donna Regan agrees.

"I had the pleasure of teaching Honors geometry to Aerial her freshman year," Regan said. "I found her to be focused, engaged and always questioning. She helped make the class challenging, and I appreciated it. Aerial is the consummate student-athlete. Not only is she successful with her rigorous academic schedule, taking Advanced Placement and Honors courses, she is a varsity cheerleader and she runs track. Aerial is a high achiever and has exceeded all expectations in my view. I am so honored that she chose me as one of her positive influences, but I think it's Aerial that has had a positive influence on me."

She is considering a career in aerospace engineering.

In addition to her commitments to academics and sports, Emery volunteers in numerous organizations. At school, she is a member of the Key Club. This summer, the members got together and made a video on the importance of recycling, and the video was viewed by the entire school. According to assistant principal Richard Batchelor, Land O' Lakes High is the county leader in recycling paper and plastics.

In her community, she is a volunteer for the Council for Exceptional Children.
Emery is a cheerleading coach at the Land O' Lakes Recreational Center. Working with 7- and 8-year-olds, she teaches techniques and the importance of working together. During halftime at football and basketball games, Emery can be seen leading 80-100 young cheerleaders in dance and tumbling routines.

Berger summed up the impact Emery has had on her school and community.

"One of my favorite quotes is 'In order to be good, you have to prove it every day,'" he said. "This represents Aerial as a student-athlete. She works very hard every day to do her best academically and athletically. She is a great role model for both the younger cheerleaders and students at Land O' Lakes. Her attitude and personality are infectious - she is always positive and smiling. She has the ability to lift people up with both her work ethic and her attitude."

Teachers, coaches: If you would like to nominate an outstanding student-athlete to be featured in an upcoming In The Community article, contact Cliff Gill at reportercliffgill@yahoo.com or (727) 860-4903.

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