Under the Friday night lights in Smithville, DeKalb County’s football cheerleaders aim to bring energy that carries far beyond the sideline. For Lillie Young, that role has become more than school spirit: Young said it has helped shape who she is.
“Being a football cheerleader has shaped my life in many different ways,” Young said. “Just getting to have friends throughout the team and just bond with everybody.”
Young has been involved in athletics for most of her life, growing up around sports in a family that encouraged competition and teamwork. While she also plays basketball for the Lady Tigers, cheerleading has remained a constant passion, even when the path was not always smooth.
Young cheered and played basketball throughout her childhood, but her high school journey took an unexpected turn during her freshman year. She made the difficult decision to step away from cheerleading to focus solely on basketball, a choice that she said did not come easily.
“There wasn’t that many spots opening up,” Young said. “There’s just a bunch of different components to that but I do think it was the Lord’s plan for me to not make it that year.”
Though Young said she did not want to take a break from cheer, the setback ultimately helped her grow. Young said she returned determined, earning a spot on the cheer team her sophomore year and cheering ever since.
Behind the smiles and chants, Young said the work required to make the team and stay there was demanding. She spent extra time improving her tumbling and jumps, pushing herself physically and mentally to reach the level required.
Her love for sports was fueled early on by her family. Young said watching her brothers play basketball and being around the game, especially with her father coaching, inspired her competitive spirit. Growing up in Smithville, Young also leaned on friends who were already part of cheer teams, seeking advice and encouragement along the way.
Now, as someone who has experienced both disappointment and success, Young said she hopes her journey can serve as encouragement for younger athletes.
“Never give up,” Young said. “If you love it enough, just go with it. I worked really hard on my tumbling and jumps and they got better and I made it, so if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
For Young, cheerleading has become more than routines and game nights, but also a reminder that perseverance, faith and hard work can turn setbacks into defining moments.