Soul of 78-Haylee McKinney and Taylor Brooke Threlkeld
Bevill State Community College Cheerleaders
Words by Anna Duncan Owens | Image by Ryan McGill
Two Walker County natives are hitting the mat at Bevill State Community College, carrying with them the same heart, hustle, and hometown pride that shaped them through years of hard work in high school.
Haylee McKinney, a Dora High School graduate, spent five years on her school’s competitive cheer team. It’s where she says she first learned what it really takes to succeed. “I was taught that it takes hard work, dedication, and teamwork to be successful,” she says.
Her teammate, Taylor Brooke Threlkeld, came up through Jasper Cheer and shares a similar story. “Growing up in this community, coaches and teachers have shown me values and discipline,” she says. “I have learned things from my coaches that I can use for the rest of my life.”
Both athletes have pushed themselves through tough challenges. For Haylee, her standout moment came during her senior year at Dora. “We competed and earned third place at Nationals!” she says proudly. For Taylor Brooke, junior year came with a unique hurdle—perfecting two routines at once. “It takes so much discipline and determination,” she says.
Both are also passionate about correcting the common misconceptions surrounding cheerleading. “People don’t consider it a sport,” McKinney says, “but it requires not only skill and technique, but also teamwork for each stunt and routine to hit.”
Taylor Brooke agrees. “I wish everyone could understand how many hours the coaches and teammates put into perfecting the routine, planning things for the community, and making sure we look perfect for games.”
Their approaches to performance may be different, but they complement each other. “When cheering, I’m excited and I try to motivate the team as much as possible!” Haylee says. Taylor Brooke, on the other hand, locks in on crowd interaction: “I’m constantly thinking about never dropping my smile and always engaging with the crowd.”
Cheering at Bevill has helped them both grow outside of practice, too. Haylee has leaned into leadership. “It’s important to not only just be a leader on the team but to be a leader in life,” she says. “Set your goals high and be a leader by example.” Taylor Brooke says she’s found new friendships she didn’t expect: “I’ve made so many new friends just in the short time I’ve been at Bevill.”
And for the younger kids watching from the stands? Haylee hopes they’ll see “how fun cheer can be and that they can set their mind to achieve anything.” Taylor Brooke adds, “I want them to see my genuine smile and personality when I cheer.”
For Haylee and Taylor Brooke, cheer has never been just about the sport. It’s been about commitment, growth, and showing up for something bigger than themselves. And with every stunt, smile, and step, these cheerleaders continue to be the kind of role models Walker County is proud to call its own. 78