By: Hunter Ferguson
Ada cheerleader Channing Ballard recently gave an interview to VYPE.
VYPE: What are your personal goals for the year?
CB: My personal goals for this year are to become a better athlete mentally, make good grades for my transcript, and master my one to one. that’s a difficult co-ed stunt skill. this skill has been a real challenge for me.
VYPE: What is your favorite athletic memory?
CB: My favorite athletic memory is when the Junior High Cheer team won Game Day State in 2022 and were state championships!! I really hope to repeat that someday.
VYPE: What teammate has left the biggest impression on you and why?
CB: The teammate that has left the biggest impression is Lilly Keefer. Because she encourages me even when i don’t think i’m doing good and is someone that i enjoy being around at practice or outside of practice and she is always working her hardest and pushes me as a tumbler and to be better each day. she has always been kind to me.
VYPE: What is your favorite part of being on this team?
CB: My favorite part of being on this team is working towards goals with friends i love and cheering on the Ada Cougars!!
VYPE: Do you participate in any community service projects?
CB: I volunteer for the City of Ada for the Christmas Trail of Lights, and in my gifted and talented club at school, we are working on door decorations for the residents of the local nursing home.
VYPE: What Clubs or Campus groups are you involved with and why?
I am a member of The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I am in Student Council, FCCLA and FCA.
I’m on the Oklahoma Legends All Star Cheer Team and I play tennis for Ada Junior High
School.
VYPE: What has your sport taught you that you use in your daily life?
Cheer has taught me to never give up, be patient, and work hard for the skills that are
difficult…and they will come.
VYPE: What is the best advice that anyone has given you?
The best advice i’ve ever been given is you are your biggest competitor and competition, focus
on you and the results will follow. This is from my Deeda (grandma), Jamie Leach.
VYPE: Who inspires you and why?
The person that inspires me the most is my big sister, Olivia. She is and has always been there
for me and i know she will forever be. I remember seeing her on the sidelines at games or
watching her at her Cougann State and knowing i want to be just like her when i’m older, but no
one could ever come close to how pretty and talented she is. I will always adore her and love
her!!
VYPE: Here is your chance to give a shoutout or say thank you to anyone you wish.
CB:I would like to say thank you to Karry Griese and Shyann Bedsole for believing in me since dayone. They took a chance on me, and turned this lifelong dancer into a cheerleader!! I love you guys with my whole heart. I hope I make you proud every time I step on the mat…or even long after my cheer days are over.
