Fired up to cheer: Q&A with Jackson cheerleader Taylor Matlock

Taylor Matlock, a 15-year-old sophomore on the Jackson High School cheerleading team, took a few minutes before practice Wednesday to chat with the neXt page.

How long have you been cheering?

This is going to be my fourth year. When I was in 5th grade I kind of started wanting to do it.

Why did you start cheering?

My mom's a cheer coach so she kind of got me started with it.

What's your favorite part?

In general it's getting up on Friday night and getting everyone excited at the games.

What's your favorite thing to do?

Stunting.

What do you like better, basketball or football?

Football. I don't know why. I guess because it's outside, and there are more people.

You guys have a good team this year don't you?

Yeah, we're great.

Have you ever made up a cheer?

Yeah, whenever I was captain last year I made up a cheer. We all had to make up a cheer.

Really? So, what was it?

I honestly don't remember. We usually just get a DVD and learn the cheers.

How many competitions have you been in?

Four, no, five times. I've been in competition five times. I competed once two years ago and four times the year before that.

Your jacket is covered in patches. What titles do you hold?

I made All-American two years. A lot of those patches are stuff from the whole team. We made Champion Champ, Top Team, Spirit Stick -- we always get the spirit stick -- the spirit megaphone award, I think that's it. Oh yeah, and I've won, like, a leadership award and our team has won the Herkey award.

How do you get pumped up for games?

I usually listen to my iPod with my friends and talk about it.

What do you listen to?

Lil Wayne, you know, the rapper.

What do you do in your down time?

I teach gymnastics at Heartland. What else do I do in normal life? Not really anything. I go the movies with my friends and go on dates. And I go shopping; I love to go shopping.

What's your favorite subject in school?

Language.

Like the English language?

Haha. Yeah.

What subject would you get rid of?

Math and science and history.

Do you want to keep cheering?

I love cheering. I want to go to Kentucky just for the cheerleading squad.