Cheerleading
Favorite athlete: Carson Wentz
Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles
Favorite memory competing in sports: Placing fourth during the 2015 CB East Cheer Competition
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that happened while competing in sports: We all shared our love for buffalo chicken dip with a song and dance.
Music on iPod: Anything Country
Future plans: I plan to study Biology with a Pre-Med Advisory at the University of Scranton to reach my goal of being a pediatrician.
Words to live by: “Life changes constantly, whether it’s for better or for worse, everything will be different tomorrow.”
One goal before turning 30: Graduate Medical School
One thing people don’t know about me: I am the 2016-17 Miss Oreland Lion
By GORDON GLANTZ
In 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. That same year, Hattie Wyatt Caraway of Arkansas became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
And in 1972, Billie Jean King was the first woman to be named Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsperson of the Year.”
If Jessica Smith is going to find her name on an easy Internet search of female trailblazers, it is likely to be in her desired goal of being a pediatrician.
But she will do so knowing she was also a first – the first Univest Female Featured Athlete who is a student-athlete from the oft-misunderstood world of cheerleading.
“That’s awesome,” she said of being the first to receive the honor. “I really appreciate it.”
And as proud as she is of the accomplishment, she is equally proud of the craft she began as a sixth grader in middle school.
While some may scoff that a cheerleader is not really an “athlete,” at least not in the traditional sense, she knows otherwise.
“I get that a lot,” said Smith, whose only other athletic endeavor has been playing volleyball for her church. “But competitive cheerleading is definitely a sport. We can’t let people criticize us. We just keep doing what we do.”
Hers is a demanding schedule, particularly for a high-achieving student with a 4.0 GPA while holding a down a course load with three AP classes and also a job at Rita’s Water Ice.
While Springfield will not be taking part in cheer competitions this year, the schedule remains as demanding as it is for any varsity athlete.
“We practice, every day, for an hour and a half after school – except for Mondays, when there is a JV football game,” she said. “In the winter, during basketball season, it will be the same schedule – except that the games are on Tuesdays and Fridays.”
A Big Letdown
The reason why the cheerleading takes place on Monday, for junior varsity football, is well known. It sent ripples through the regional scholastic sports community when the decision was made – after one game – to cancel the varsity football schedule due to lack of numbers.
It was a difficult time, and the need was there for school leaders like Smith to step up and fill the void.
“At first, the whole school was disappointed,” she said. “It was a big letdown, but we were reconciled to it and still full of school spirit.”
Part of that was a Plan B for Homecoming in which cheerleading coach Deborah Buckley played a major role.
“I didn't personally (take the lead), but my coach is also the head of student council, so she worked with the administrators to develop a plan,” said Smith. “This year we are planning for a week full of homecoming festivities including grade level competitions every day, leading up to a pep rally on Friday. Our homecoming court event will happen on Wednesday, in between the boys and girls soccer games. We're just trying to capture the excitement we had around football and center it around some of our other sports teams.”
Breaking Stereotypes
This was not the first trying time Smith has dealt with adversity. She thanks Buckley, for being a “huge help” in keeping her “inspired” when numbers were down.
“Last year, we lost a lot of seniors,” said Smith. “We had a small team. We really had to keep it together. We only had, maybe, seven or eight at the beginning of last year but we were able to keep it together for the whole year.
“I tried my best to keep a positive attitude, and it rippled through the rest of the team.”
The resulting payoff was immense as this year’s squad is close to double the size.
“We have a lot of freshmen,” said Smith. “It is their first year and they all seem to really enjoy it. I hope they all continue with it.”
If they match the standard set by Smith, the cheerleading program will grow alongside football.
Even after graduation, her light is not one that will soon go out at the school.
“Jess has been a cheerleader for four years,” said Buckley. “She is a co-captain this year. She is a hard-working dedicated athlete. She is a true team leader who strives to make everyone on her team better and wants the whole team to succeed as a whole just as much as she wants to achieve as an individual. She also is a leader in helping to develop all around school spirit and pride.
“In the offseason, she is always working on recruiting new teammates and developing new material to change up the program. She is dedicated, compassionate and focused on making every season the best season she can for herself as well as the whole team.”
Smith, who Buckley said “represented us with pride” when she was named Miss Oreland Lions for 2016-17 on July 4th, developed her sales pitch to perspective cheerleaders through trial and error and a whole lot of poise and patience.
Basically, the message was a more demure version of the “don’t knock it until you try it” adage.
“I don’t think people understand,” she explained. “There is a stereotype of what people think a cheerleader is supposed to be. I would just say to them, ‘if you have any interest, why don’t you try it out,’ regardless of any stereotypes.”
The Final Cheer
As much as she has loved her experience cheerleading – and gives special thanks the support of her parents, Katie and Steve, braving the cold at football games – the end is in sight.
Smith is settling down to apply to colleges – Scranton tops her list – and says that being a pediatrician is her “biggest goal” looking into the future.
“I always wanted to be a doctor, ever since I was little, and I always liked taking care of children,” said Smith, who also wanted to give a special shout out to her younger brother, Steven, a diligent baseball player. “I babysit a lot, so I’m used it.”
In addition, Smith dives headfirst into school activities. She is in the National Honors Society and Social Leadership Club (a revamped No Place For Hate type of organization) while also working on the crew for school plays and serving as a peer tutor.
“I block out a period of school every other day and assist other students,” she said. “It’s my second year doing it. I just really like helping other people.”
Juggling everything – schoolwork, activities and cheerleading – could get overwhelming, but Smith sees it as a way of life that she would not trade.
“I mainly just try to keep a steady routine from day to day, and that helps to keep everything in order,” she said, acknowledging that cheering alongside her closest friend, Paige Birkmire, has made the ride even more special since they became close as freshmen.
“I try to prioritize everything that I need to do and get the most important things on my list done first,” Smith continued. “I also try to avoid procrastination as much as possible. While it may be daunting at times, I just keep reminding myself of my goals and how everything I'm doing today will benefit me in the future. I'm also motivated by my friends, family, and teammates to be successful.
“This will be my last year (cheering). I want to end on a good note, and finish out the season with all my friends. It had been a really good experience.”
