After four years of cheering at Coalgate High School, Amy Walton will move on to cheer at Oklahoma Baptist University next fall, but before leaving she shared some of her memories of her time in high school.

“I really hadn’t thought much about cheer but some of my friends talked me into trying out in the seventh grade and I made the team. I didn’t get to cheer in eighth grade but tried out again when I got to high school and I’ve been cheering ever since,” said Walton who was also active in student council, FFA, and National Honor Society in high school. “I love the interaction and friendships I’ve made over the years. My favorite position in cheer has been back spot which I’ve done the last three years. I’m pretty tall which helps, and I’ve become pretty good at doing it.”

Along the way there were some bumps in the road, but Amy says she had good support to help her through.

“My mom is probably the biggest motivator for me. She talked me out of quitting a few times and has always been there for me and my coach pushed me when I didn’t want to be pushed and let me be me when sometimes she shouldn’t have,” Walton laughed.

Among the highlights of her cheer career were becoming a flyer during her freshman year and having a voice this past year as a senior in how things were run and introducing some stunts and dances. And then it came time to think about life after high school. 

“I wasn’t sure I wanted to cheer when I went to college, but I did a tour of OBU just to see. I talked a little with their coach and later attended an open practice. The girls were all so nice and welcoming even though I was from a small school. I stayed in touch with them and went to a recruiting camp and in April, they offered me and I’m excited about going,” said Amy who made All American in cheer her junior year. “I think the biggest differences for me will be that they do competitive cheering which we didn’t do at Coalgate and their stunts are more complex and it takes a little time to learn them and get on those teams.”

As she leaves Coalgate, Amy says she would like to be remembered as someone who was always welcoming and accepting, smart, and that hopefully she had an impact on the younger girls.