Every athlete has a story. A unique and personal journey of defying expectations, challenging comfort zones and shattering limits. Our goal: empower every athlete to dream bigger, reach further.

Meet the athletes of the #VarsityFootwear Shoe Crew.

Kristen Paul

My Team: University of Memphis Pom
My Shoe: Knit Strut
My Favorite Skill: Turning Switch Tilt
My Power Word: Driven
My #SoleStory: Dance has given me purpose and motivation. It has also given me confidence and a way I can express myself in more ways than I thought. Growing up with a dance family and people who have constantly motivated me my whole life is something i will forever be grateful for. It shaped me to be who I am today.

Kai Patterson

My Team: Cheer Extreme SSX
My Shoe: Black Ascend
My Favorite Skill: Split Arabian thru to Double Punchback
My Power Word: Determination
My #SoleStory: Competitive cheerleading has always been an important part of my life. My main job on SSX is tumbling, and I’m always hungry to learn more tricks and skills. I love to watch YouTube videos of males in Allstar Cheer to see what skills they’re throwing. There are very few females in Allstar Cheer who tumble with the boys, so I’ve always pushed myself to gain similar skills. My goal has always been to be the best me I could be, but I also want to achieve skills that are dominated by mostly males.

Michael ‘Quick’ McGee

My Team: University of Memphis
My Shoe: Black Aeros
My Favorite Skill: Double to Full Kick Full
My Power Word: Quick
My #SoleStory: Growing up, I was surrounded by the influence of martial arts from my entire family. My journey with martial arts evolved from learning moves or perfecting little details, to venturing into a new field. When I graduated high school, I wanted to try collegiate cheerleading and was later able to pursue that dream. Because of cheerleading, I can truly be myself in the air.

Lexie Stinebaugh

My Teams: Cheer Athletics Swooshcats & Rockwall Heath High School
My Shoe: DBL Edge
My Favorite Skill: Round Off Backhand Spring Double
My Power Word: Dedicated
My #SoleStory: Cheerleading has given me so many things. From pep rallies to game day traditions to showing pride for my high school, the energy is unforgettable. From the bond with my all star team, traveling to new places, performing on big stages, one thing remains the same: no matter which uniform I’m wearing, I’m motivated by knowing that my teammates are prepared, and we can do whatever we set our mind to.

Allison Khong

My Team: Keller Indianettes
My Shoe: Knit Strut
My Favorite Skill: Double Leg Turn
My Power Word: Passionate
My #SoleStory: Dancing has been a part of my life since I was three years old. From studio dance to competitive dance and now have the opportunity to be captain of my high school dance team: it means everything to me. My favorite feeling is having the ability to share the floor with people who share the same passion as me. When I’m about to take the floor, I let adrenaline control my every move and take over. My focus immediately turns to the thing I love most: dance.

Julia Wisk

My Team: Brandon Senior Black
My Shoe: Black Aeros
My Favorite Skill: Jumps to Back
My Power Word: Motivated
My #SoleStory: Since the beginning of my cheerleading career, I had the dream of being a part of Brandon All Stars. One day, I made the dream team that I remember watching and looking up to from a very young age. My team pushes me to be better and try harder, no matter what I do. Before each practice or competition, I’m always motivated by one thing: the simple fact that my team worked as hard as we could, together. I know because of my team, I represent more than just a group of athletes, I represent a family.

Grant Joest

My Team: Woodlands Elite Black Ops
My Shoe: Black Ascends
My Favorite Skill: Split Arabians
My Power Word: Motivated
My #SoleStory: Cheerleading has taught me so many things that I can use for the rest of my life! It has taught me how to stay motivated and push my team in a positive direction. I have always been motivated to be better than I was yesterday and to focus on new things each time I tumble. I am very technique driven and I love being able to try to evolve as an athlete!

Elise Cunningham

My Team: University of Memphis Pom
My Shoe: Varsity 360
My Favorite Skill: Jumps
My Power Word: Motivated
My #SoleStory: I’ve been dancing my whole life. It’s a passion that has taught and shaped me in more ways than I can count and has since become my own safe haven. More importantly, being a part of a dance family has lead me to where I am today. I’m forever grateful to dance for giving me discipline, various opportunities to express myself, and those who motivated me along the way.

Laila Travillion

My Team: Collierville High School Dance Team
My Shoe: Varsity Beat 2
My Favorite Skill: Amazon
My Power Word: Bubbly
My #SoleStory: My motivation comes from different places. When I first started dancing at three years old, I really fell in love with it because I was able to express myself. I am not tall in stature and dance allows me to feel bigger, because it’s not about my height, it’s solely about what I can do. My motivation also comes from the teammates I have grown up with, as they push me to be my best.

Savanna Geeslin

My Team: University of Memphis
My Shoe: Varsity Ascend
My Favorite Skill: Round off Whip Through to Full
My Power Word: Competitive
My #SoleStory: As someone who only played basketball growing up, I never imaged I would be a collegiate and Team USA Cheerleader. Being a cheerleader for the University of Memphis has been one of the most significant decisions I have ever made. My teammates and coaches inspire me every day to become a better athlete.

Emily Dock

My Team: University of Memphis
My Shoe: Varsity Ascend
My Favorite Skill: Running Full
My Power Word: Competitive
My #SoleStory: Ever since I can remember, I have grown up being a cheerleader. More recently, I moved from my hometown to a new city, to represent the University of Memphis. My parents are my biggest motivation as to where I have come today. Because of my parents and teammates, cheerleading allows me to go out of my comfort zone every single day.

Payton Washington

My Team:Woodlands Elite Generals
My Shoe: Black Ascend
My Favorite Skill: Standing Full
My Power Word: Confidence
My #SoleStory: Many think that what I have gone through would make me give up, but it’s the complete opposite. Cheer is my life with a forever family who I bond and make new memories with every year and make me strive to be the best cheerleader I can be.

Reece Cunningham

My Team: Twist and Shout Diamonds and Owasso Varsity Cheer
My Shoe: Ascend
My Favorite Skill: Whip through to double
My Power Word: Grit
My #SoleStory: Cheerleading has been a huge part of my life for 15 years. It has taught me so many life lessons. Cheerleading taught me how to persevere through hard times and never give up. I truly would not be the person I am today without cheerleading. I’m so thankful I fell in love with this sport at such a young age and have been able to continue loving it throughout the years.

@VarsitySpirit




    
		    

	

	
	        
        
                        
        
    
	


	    
	
	        
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