All About that Back Spot: Kelsey Werling

Being a back spot is hard…It has made me a better leader, harder worker and mentally tougher than I would have been without it.

As long as I can remember I’ve been holding ankles in my hands and providing stability to my friends (aka my stunt group). In my thirteen years of cheerleading I’ve never found myself in the air, but always underneath the stunts, creating a foundation that allows the top girl to soar. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how unusual stunting is. I find myself thinking, “Who in the world was the first person to encourage someone to stand on another person’s hands?” Honestly, I couldn’t be more thankful they did.

I started cheerleading when I was in third grade at a small all-star gym in my hometown of Pendleton, Indiana. I immediately fell in love. From there I cheered at several different gyms in surrounding cities but never loved anything as much as I loved cheering for my school. I started game day cheer in middle school, and cheered every year through my senior year at Pendleton Heights High School. There’s no way to describe the pride I felt from wearing my school letters across my chest in front of hundreds of people at games and competitions. 
These were the years in which I built the foundational techniques that I hold onto today. My coach, Brenda Jamerson, was tough on us to always use proper technique. We were also never allowed to give up. This is a mindset that has continued to follow me not only in cheerleading, but also in my life today. 

It was always my dream to cheer at Indiana University. In April of 2013, that dream became a reality when I made the Crimson all girl team. During my time at Indiana, I’ve had the opportunity to compete on the nationals mat every year and have been a part of two National Championship teams. For me, there really is no greater sense of pride than wearing my Crimson uniform. I am now a senior at Indiana and will graduate in May 2017, with a Major in Telecommunications, a Certificate in Journalism, and a Minor in Sports Marketing and Management. These have truly been the best years of my life. 

I’m a talker. Always have been and always will be. My first grade teacher wrote on my report card that I was a “social butterfly,” if that gives you any sort of indication. That verbal confidence has really helped me become a better back spot. Being the back spot of a stunt group means being the communicator. I never stop talking. When I speak up in the group, I choose things that will fire in the mind of my stunt group. Short words like “Quick!” “Shrug!” or “Stand!” to give my group’s brains a wake up call. Tony Nash, my coach at IU has taught me that saying things like “good job” does not wake up the brain like short cues. The technical knowledge of stunting and the life lessons he has taught me, is something I’ll be forever grateful for.

Being a back spot is hard. It takes a special kind of person to keep control of their emotions while also helping the rest of the stunt group to stay in control. It has made me a better leader, harder worker and mentally tougher than I would have been without it.

By: Kelsey Werling