Words by Jodi Ann Martin | Images by Al Blanton 

From a brisk morning walk down the streets of London, England, to enjoying the beams of sunshine in Walt Disney World Resort, nothing can stop Cordova’s Ginny Posey and Jasper’s Kaitlyn Edgil from flying high to reach their dreams as competitive cheerleaders. Both girls have worked tirelessly on and off the mat, and now their spirit will converge on the cheerleading team at the University of North Alabama (UNA).

Posey and Edgil made the UNA cheerleading squad with high hopes to continue doing something they love. “I started dancing when I was two years old, and I really have been dancing ever since,” Ginny says. “Dance has given me such a solid foundation for cheering. My dancing translated well to both my cheering and even my schoolwork by helping me learn material fast.”

In 2018, Ginny and Cordova High School’s cheer team won the 4A-5A State Championship. Ginny began cheering at the age of six with the Cordova Toy Bowl Association and has cheered every year since, including middle school and varsity. “It was so amazing to accomplish this. It was a dream come true,” says Ginny, who also participated in cross country, track, and musical theater as a Cordova student.

Ginny was even invited to participate in the London New Year Parade after being named an All-American Cheerleaderat UCA Cheer Camp during the summer. “These activities were all great foundational blocks to build my endurance and become more comfortable with my stage presence competing. I think all of these things have only strengthened me to become the cheerleader I am today.” 

Kaitlyn’s career in cheer also was born from another first love. After 10 years of gymnastics classes at TNT Tumblers in Dora, Kaitlyn felt she needed a change in order to grow. She found that opportunity with competitive cheering. “It was a way I could still have a little bit of gymnastics but also work toward something new,” she says. 

When Kaitlyn reached level 2 ½ as a cheerleader, which meant she could compete using her advanced tumbling skills, she was hooked. “That adrenaline rush I felt after competing was like nothing I had ever experienced,” she says. 

Earlier this year, Kaitlyn and Jasper Cheer Coach Amber Wright each came down with a bad case of food poisoning while the team was attending cheer nationals in Orlando. Despite her discomfort, Kaitlyn was able to bounce back for the finals and Jasper placed 3rd at nationals against 27 other teams.  

“I felt really bad and even got an I.V. to get liquids back in my system,” she says. “I knew I wanted to finish strong for my team.”  

Kaitlyn is now a coach for young girls at TNT Tumblers, while Ginny has a summer job with the Universal Cheer Association. Come fall, both ladies will be ready to face the roaring crowd at UNA’s Braly Stadium, cheering on the Lions together. 78