Quincy Harris is a senior backspot on Minooka’s varsity cheer team. She’s been part of cheer since second grade. This interview with Nook News has been edited for clarity and length.

Q: How did you get into cheer?
A: I actually was introduced to cheer at the Minooka football games. When I was little, my dad and I would go to the games and I remember one time, I was in the end zone with girls who cheered, and they were showing me how to do cartwheels and handstands. I went home and told my mom that I wanted to try it out, so I signed up for a recreational team. After that, I went to various all-star teams before I cheered for Minooka.

Q: How is high school?
A: I am really lucky to say that I have had a great high school experience this far. And I really think that I have enjoyed it so much because I am involved with cheer and other activities here. 

Q: What age did you join cheer?
A: I joined a recreational team when I was in second grade, and then started competitive cheer by the end of second grade. 

Q: What do you love about cheer?
A: There is a lot I love about cheer. In terms of the components of cheer, I really love to stunt. Stunting is my strength in cheer and I really love it. But, cheer as a sport is awesome because it has so many areas to grow and so many opportunities for creativity. For example, I can name so many skills that I have gained in stunting since I started, and even at 18, there are countless more things I can learn. And that is applicable for anything in cheer, like tumbling, jumps, or dance. And for creativity, it’s so fun to watch other teams at competitions because all the routines are so different and they have different ways of debuting their skills. 

Q: Who is the best on the team?
A: In cheer, it’s hard to specifically determine who is the “best” on the team because, usually, there are people who excel more in one category than another. And with that, all the different athletes are needed because a good cheer team is made up of people who are good at different things. And another thing I love about cheer is that everyone is contributing their best which makes everybody an equal part to the team. In typical sports, there are starters and people who play more than others, but on the mat, everyone is putting on the same routine and working toward the same goals just putting forward their individual strengths. 

Q: If you could have any superpower what would it be? Why?
A: If I had a superpower, I would want it to be flying just because I love going on airplanes and I like to travel. 

Q:What is your favorite color?
A: Pink