Q&A with Niceville High School cheerleader Kaymin Mikel Magier
NICEVILLE, Fla. — Kaymin Mikel Magier, 16, is a sophomore varsity cheerleader at Niceville High School. She has been involved in cheerleading for eight years.
What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?
Kaymin Mikel Magier: I would like to continue helping my team win State and Nationals for my remaining two years. My dream is to cheer in college because I can’t imagine not having cheer in my life and I would also like to get my degree in sports broadcasting.
What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
Magier: We have won State for the last 3 years in a row and between JV and Varsity we have 4 National titles. The challenge we face every season is, what can we do to stay on top? That means training and putting in countless hours of reps which consists of tumbling, stunting and making sure we are clicking as a team. It’s hard work but the end result is always worth it and nothing replaces the bond that we have as a team.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Magier: Be a leader, not a follower and make sure you are leading for the right reasons because people will be watching and counting on you. I try to apply that to not only cheer but to my everyday life.
What do you love about your sport?
Magier: I love the bond that you form with your teammates. You spend a lot of time together so knowing that you can count on each other is a great feeling.
Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?
Magier: We have a group of us that get ready together before each game or competition. We help each other with hair and make-up and listen to music and basically get ourselves in the right mindset.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Magier: I’m actually very involved in pageants and I’m the current Teen Miss Niceville which has been a huge honor representing the town that I love through community service and appearances.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Magier: When they say there is no “I” in team they are absolutely correct. You win as a team and you lose as one. It’s taught me to always give 110% even on days that I want to give up. Not giving your best isn’t just letting yourself down, it’s letting your whole team down. You never want to be that person.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?
Magier: That’s a really hard question because I have had so many positive influences with amazing advice. The one that stays on my mind daily is “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard”.
Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
Magier: Our cheer routines can be very fast paced and non-stop from one transition to another. There have been a few times that I have literally been so caught up that my mind has gone blank on a motion or chant. I’ve learned that you keep going. If you are confident then chances are no one has caught it.
Anything else you’d like to add:
Magier: Find something that you love and are passionate about and do it. Don’t let an opportunity pass you by because you are afraid or think you aren’t good enough. For young people my age it may not be sports and that’s ok, but find something to be a part of. It will change your life!
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