Lily Robbins, a senior at Cushing High School, has built her final year around leadership, faith and gratitude, drawing on lessons learned through years as a multisport athlete .
Robbins serves as co-captain of the CHS cheer squad, a role that has expanded her responsibilities beyond performing at games and competitions. “As co-captain of my cheer team my role on our cheer squad differs slightly than what it has been in the past. It has always been my job to help show school spirit/pride, cheer on others, and work hard to compete in cheer competitions. However, this year I am also responsible for helping teach material to our new teammates, planning events/routines, and setting an example for the team,” she said .
Cheer demands a near year-round commitment, with tryouts in March followed by practices that intensify from once a week to as many as five times weekly during football season, then taper into basketball season before tryouts begin again . Despite the grueling schedule, Robbins said the relationships built along the way matter most. “I love getting to cheer on the sidelines and compete with my team, but the best part of cheer is getting to make memories with my teammates. My cheer team works really hard all year round, so the breaks we get to laugh and have fun together are my favorite parts of being on the team. Looking back on CHS Cheer I will obviously remember all of the practices, games, and competitions, but what will always mean the most to me is the bus rides, concession runs, and team bonding spent with some of my best friends,” she said .
Robbins credits two former teammates, Juliana and Yohali, with shaping who she is today. “Juliana was such a light for me and the entire team. She was always smiling and encouraging others even when in tough situations. She was the best role model I could’ve had, and I hope to be the same for the younger girls on my team. Her constant kindness and positive attitude helped me to grow my love for cheer and has motivated me to become the cheerleader I am today,” she said .
An ACL and meniscus tear during her freshman year reshaped Robbins’ outlook on athletics and life. “After suffering a severe injury due to athletics I’ve learned to look at life through gratitude and learned how lucky I am to compete and move my body. After tearing my ACL and Medial Meniscus my freshman year I learned to always be thankful for a healthy, injury free and able body,” she said .
Faith remains central to her identity as an athlete and person. “My biggest inspiration and motivation is my relationship with Jesus. After being saved and growing closer to God my sophomore year of high school, I’ve been inspired to have a more Christ-like mindset when it comes to my athletics. This has helped me to become a better teammate, improved my mentality, and bettered my work ethic,” she said .
Beyond cheer, Robbins captains the soccer team, runs cross country, and serves as senior class student council president. She also belongs to National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, her church’s Student Leadership Team and Hope Squad .
