Her athletic skills were honed on the gymnastic mat when she was growing up but after some urging from friends, Hugo junior Jodi Emberson joined the Hugo cheer team last year.

“I did gymnastics for about 10 years when I was growing up and I got really good at tumbling,” said Jodi.

“I was in competitive gymnastics and became an Excel Diamond between level seven and eight. I placed second at nationals twice and won three state championships but gymnastics is hard on the body and so I took a break and that’s when my friends got me to try out for cheer.”

This year she is a flyer or top girl in the stunts which has required some adjusting for Jodi according to her coach Kelsi Lopez.

“In gymnastics they learn to land with their toes pointed but as a top girl you have to be more flat footed so the others can hold you up and that’s taken some adjustment for Jodi. But she’s a phenomenal athlete and won the Fighting Buffalo award last year for her work ethic and never-give-up example that she sets for others.”

The Hugo cheer team qualified for the state OSSAA competition this year and finished seventh which was very satisfying for Jodi.

“It was very exciting to go to state, but it was hard work. All of us were very dedicated and it was a goal that we set during the summer, and it was great to reach it. Now we’re getting ready for the Game Day competition in November.”

In addition to cheer, Jodi is also in student council, Leo Club, and is a drum major for the band where she plays clarinet and tenor sax.

“Sometimes it gets a little tough to do both, but practices are at different times so that helps. During football I’ll cheer to start the game and then go perform with the band at halftime. Some days I just don’t want to school and have a rest day but I push myself to and get it done and my parents and coach also push me.”

Jodi says she would like to go to college and cheer in a couple of years and ultimately become a neo-natal nurse.