Orange Lutheran sophomore Abbie Prather has been in the competitive world of cheer since she was seven years old. As a Lancer varsity sideline cheerleader and STUNT team member, Prather enjoys the competition, an aspect of the sport that she feels is often overlooked.

 

“A lot of people don't think of cheer or STUNT as a competitive sport, but it really is one-on-one competition,” says Prather. “It’s about whoever is the best at what they do in that aspect of cheer. I think it's so fun…There's a spot for everyone.”

 

As a freshman, Prather was part of the inaugural year for STUNT at OLu, and after a successful first season, she’s excited to be back and continue to help grow the program’s legacy.

 

“I think it's such an honor that we get to start this from the bottom and build it up because I know that STUNT is going to become so popular over the next ten years,” says Prather. “It is such a diverse sport, and so many people can join it with so many different talents.”

 

Having spent years competing on club teams, the 15-year old holds a special place for being a Lancer and the unique camaraderie that comes with training alongside those who share a common faith.

 

“I think it's so great that we get to represent our school spirit and do it all through Christ,” says Prather. “We're all coming together as a team, for one goal. We have a student body that we're really proud of and a school that we're really proud of…With my teammates here at OLu, we get to work together, all through Christ, and do it for him.”

 

Prather’s commitment to her school and her sport have made her an integral part of the growth of OLu’s STUNT program.

 

“When you look up the term ‘student athlete’ in the dictionary, you should see Abbie’s face,” says OLu STUNT head coach Shannon May. “Abbie is a talented flyer and tumbler, and she is someone her teammates look to for confidence in routine counts because of her amazing memorizing skills. I look forward to seeing Abbie and the team take on Year 2 representing OLu.”

 

Outside of cheer, Prather is a two-year member of ASB’s Student Life committee and maintains above a 4.0 GPA in honors and AP courses. Managing a busy schedule and other challenges that come with the sport have allowed Prather to grow in her faith as she has learned to trust in God’s perfect plan for her life.

 

“My faith has definitely helped me being a student athlete,” says Prather. “I look to prayer a lot when I'm stressed or anxious about an upcoming meet or competition, and I feel like I can just I can pray to God and find comfort in doing that. Even though I'm already prepared, I can go out there with confidence knowing that he's got me and that I can do this no matter what.”

 

After high school, Prather is considering competing in either cheer or STUNT at the collegiate level. She grateful for her parents’ support of her endeavors and her coaches for helping her develop a love for the sport.

 

“When I started cheer, I wasn't sure if it was something I wanted to be committed to, but I found programs that really pushed me and have made me so determined,” says Prather. “I'm really thankful that my coaches were there to push me and make me a persistent person, and I really look up to them for that.”