Kaeleigh Hawes, the new cheer coach for Hudson High and one of Forest Avenue’s third-grade teachers realized she missed cheering. The Hudson High alum thought back to how important her high school cheer team impacted her life in meaningful ways.
A 2011 graduate, Hawes cheered for Hudson her entire high school career. Cheering was a big part of her identity and a huge passion for her. She wanted to share that passion with the team now. Cheeing wasn’t something that Hawes could do in her adult years so being involved now means a great deal.
“The best word I can use to describe the experience is surreal. I have so much pride in being from Hudson and coming back to coach new cheerleaders sharing the same passion as me.”
When Hawes heard that there was a job opening she wasn’t sure if it was something she wanted to do and didn’t take it entirely seriously at first. However, once more people started to suggest it, she finally applied. Hawes’s father coaches his former college team and she went to him for advice which made her feel more comfortable getting the job.
“I figured if I never tried or gave it a shot then I may wish someday that I had. So far I am really happy I decided to go for it,” said Hawes.
Hawes is used to success. During her high school years, her team won many competitions, and now she leads this team to the same caliber. For the past few years, Hudson has competed in the Game Day Division. However, this year Hudson decided to go back to Division 2, a more challenging division. Competitive cheering is more of Hawe’s style and she wanted to include more competitiveness in the team.
“The team was very successful in the game day division for the last couple of years but we are bringing back more competitive cheerleading. Personally, this is more my style and what I know and love.”
For some teams, it can take time to adjust to the switch but for Hudson, they worked very hard to make it to the States which was their first time in the Performance Division in 2 years.
“I truly didn’t imagine we would get as far as we did with it being my first year coaching and their first year in the more difficult division. We were able to place second at Leagues, move onto Regionals, and then move onto States.”
During the Thanksgiving Pep Rally, cheer and football performed their traditional routine.
Captains held one extra practice with the cheerleaders to ensure everyone knew the routine before introducing it to the football players. The next week they had an additional practice with both cheerleaders and football players where the cheerleaders taught the routine.
“It was certainly challenging to have a room full of 30 cheerleaders, 30 football players, and just me as the adult. They worked hard and had a lot of fun.”
Hawes has been teaching third grade for 9 years, she says teaching is like second nature to her because she has experience doing it. Coaching is new so it takes more of her time to plan and schedule things for the team.
“I kind of treat my cheer team like a second classroom. Managing it all is a puzzle but my philosophy is that if you want something badly enough then you need to work for it and do it to the best of your ability,” she said
Hawes loves teaching and out of the classroom, she loves how open the kids are to learning and the impact that she has on them. Being able to see them improve and learn is her favorite part. Knowing that she is helping them progress is such an amazing feeling for Hawes.
“I want to be a positive role model for these high school girls and help them to see their true potential just like I do with my students.”
She hopes to be able to connect and teach high school students just as well as she can in the elementary classroom. Seeing everyone reach their full potential and improve as the year goes on.
“Seeing the girls succeed and seeing them happy at cheering events puts a smile on my face. We have competed in more than one competition now and I honestly tear up watching them because I’m so proud.”
