Houston High senior wins one of Ga.'s biggest awards in competition cheerleading

Rebekah White started cheering in the fourth grade and continued cheering in middle school and high school because she loved the competition aspect of cheering. Now White, a senior at Houston County High School, has won one of the biggest awards in competition cheerleading in Georgia

White, who has cheered for four years at Houston County High School, was named the 2015 Georgia Cheerleader of the Year by the Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association Cheerleader at the GHSA state cheerleader finals held in Columbus on Nov. 13-14.

To be eligible for the Georgia Cheerleader of the Year, a cheerleader must be nominated by her coach and meet other qualifications -- 3.5 GPA, two recommendation letters, an extensive application detailing her activities outside of cheer and submit an essay about the impact cheerleading has had on her life.

Hundreds of cheerleaders from around the state apply. Forty finalists were selected for a competition held this past summer that included an interview and a two-minute routine performed in front of judges. Each routine must contain two of three elements -- stunting, jumping or tumbling.

After being selected as one of the top 40, White and fellow Houston County High School cheerleader Elizabeth Nick had to compete Aug. 8 in Columbus for a spot on the 16 member All State Cheerleading Team. Both White and Nick were selected.

From the All State cheerleading team, a cheerleader of the year is selected and announced at the GHSA state finals.

"I was very surprised," said White, who along with cheerleading is involved in FCCLA, DECA, FBLA, HoCo's Early Childhood program and FCA and is a member of the National Honor Society. She attends Southside Baptist Church and in her spare time coaches a special needs cheerleading team. White received scholarship money for her selection but has not made her final college decision.

White started cheering in fourth grade and says her favorite part of cheering is the competition aspect.

"I like the competition. My nerves get all crazy but nothing else matters. You put in so much hard work at practice, competing is when you get to show your parents, your friends what you have been working on. It is your time to shine," White said.

White's coach at Houston County, Jessica Brown, said that she was a leader on the team.

"She is really good at teaching the younger girls and took our freshmen under her wing this year. She is adaptable and can hit whatever stunt she is asked to do. She is overall a good cheerleader in every area," Brown said.

Brown said that one of the things that she was sure set White apart during the Cheerleader of the Year competition was her personality.

"She is just the sunshine of the room wherever we go. I was outside the room when she was doing her interview, all you could hear was laughter coming from behind the door. I know she incorporated her personality into her answers to the questions. She is a light on the mat and in everything she does," Brown said.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 7:18 PM with the headline "Houston High senior wins one of Ga.'s biggest awards in competition cheerleading ."