Payton Harrell
Jenks Cheer
A cheerleader since kindergarten, Jenks High School senior Payton Harrell has grown up in the JPS system and is thankful for the opportunities she’s been provided during her time as a student-athlete.
“JHS is the perfect place to be a student-athlete because they provide so many great resources to learn time management and how to balance your classes while competing in your sport. They are so understanding when it comes to sports schedules, and they support each student athlete in their academics and athletics,” said Harrell. “I’ve always loved cheer; I’ve done it since I was in kindergarten, but it wasn’t always my main sport. I tumbled competitively for 5 years, did gymnastics for 3 years, and I danced for 10 years before I decided to make cheer my main sport.”
As a member of the varsity cheer squad, Harrell said competing with the team and coming together with her teammates is what she loves the most.
“The thing I have enjoyed most about being on the cheer squad is getting to compete with my team and see us all come together. We work so hard throughout the entire year, and I love getting to see us come together and leave it all on the mat. My favorite moment in this season has been the backyard bowl game. It was so much fun to cheer for the Trojans on the sidelines and see an up-close win against Union.
My team and I were so excited for the entire game, and I love getting to see and experience big wins like that,” said Harrell. “I love how much we trust each other, and we have such a good dynamic. I know that we are all there for each other and we enjoy each other’s company so much and it has made this season so fun!”
In the classroom, Harrell is a member of National Honor Society, Drug Free Youth, STUCO, Key Club and she is a distinguished service graduate candidate. Academics are most important to Harrell.
“Academics are very important to me, and I think that they are the foundation of my future success. I always try my hardest in every class and I plan to continue that as I transition to college. My favorite subject is for sure math! I’ve always been good with numbers, and it sounds weird, but I actually enjoy math. My favorite teacher was my AP Calculus teacher,
Mr. Ponder. He was so nice and made calculus so much fun and I was so sad to leave his class on the last day of school. I plan to major in psychology,” said Harrell.
The senior said she wants the Class of 2024 to be remembered for good leadership.
“All of us seniors are good at being leaders and showing the younger girls the ropes and I want us to be remembered for that,” said Harrell.
