The Southwest fight song does more than just inspire athletes on the field. It has also inspired 15-year-old freshman Emily Edwards to accomplish something no other Southwest student has done before her.

This year, Edwards became the high school’s first cheerleader with Down syndrome. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome and affects over 400,000 Americans. Although Edwards has this disability, she doesn’t let it hold her back when it comes to cheer, school and friendship.

Edwards enjoyed watching the cheerleaders perform and it was recognized by the team and the coaches. Asked formally by varsity cheer coach and special education teacher Kelli Lair, Edwards was ecstatic to be invited to perform with the entire cheer team.

“I had the opportunity to meet and get to know Emily this summer, and after getting to know her I found out that she loved cheerleading,” Lair said. “After I talked with her parents first, I asked Emily if she would be interested in coming to cheer class and working with the girls, and obviously her answer was yes.”

Lair then decided that Edwards would begin to learn routines, cheers and chants so that she would be ready to perform with the team. With never a dull moment, Edwards was an enjoyable new addition to the team and Lair knew she had made the right choice.

“The other girls on the team love Emily,” Lair said. “Everyone is always very excited to help Emily, and we all love to see her be successful.”

Since cheer practice is during seventh hour and Edwards is enrolled in a seventh hour class other than cheer, Lair records the routines and material Edwards must learn for her next Friday practice so that she misses as little as possible of her seventh hour class.

Edwards has practiced with the team every Friday since the start of October and finally cheered for the first time at the assembly on Oct. 18, performing routines and chants that took the team the entire summer to perfect. Edwards will later begin to perform at upcoming games, as well.

Junior varsity cheer coach Taylor Holmes is also rather fond of Edwards joining the team and believes it benefits the team much more than it does Edwards.

“Emily’s excitement really does shine on the other girls and helps them perform better at practice,” Holmes said. “It’s a great experience for her to be active and have an even bigger support system and group of friends.”

Cheerleading has been an inspiration to Edwards by creating confidence and good worth ethic. Edwards exclaims that she has nothing to be nervous about while performing. To Edwards, cheerleading is more than just an activity; it defines her.

“It’s my life,” Edwards said. “I really like to cheer, and it makes me proud to be on the team.”

Edwards had a hard time picking what she enjoys most about cheer, but if she had to it would be her new friends. She also mentions that she loves dressing up in her new uniform and all the bows and glittery apparel that go along with being a cheerleader. Edwards says she looks up to the girls on the cheerleading squad and that they are an inspiration to her.

“My cheer friends are awesome,” Edwards said. “I love cheering with the girls and being able to watch their routines.”

The entire cheerleading squad has enjoyed the company of Edwards, her cheerful presence and being a role model for the freshman. The team, including senior captain Deavyn Carey, is delighted by the idea of Edwards becoming a new member of the team.

“We are so glad that Emily is on the team,” Carey said. “She has such a fun spirit, and there’s not one time I’ve looked at her and saw her frowning. She is always laughing or wants to learn more.”

Emily’s paraprofessional Jo Oliver believes cheer has benefited Edwards in multiple ways, but mostly through friendship. Oliver says that Edwards has learned the value of teamwork, and cheer has increased her motivation to learn.

“Cheerleading really helps Emily get involved and to create a bigger circle of friends,” Oliver said. “Not only does Emily learn more and get more involved, it lets the school know more about Emily.”

| mariemtowakoli