Lucas area cheerleader Emma Tomlin鈥檚 journey to becoming a world champion
LUCAS, Texas — A Q&A with Emma Tomlin who is a member of Cheer Athletics Fiercekatz and attends Lovejoy High School.
What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?
Emma Tomlin: I鈥檓 blessed and humbled to say I鈥檝e already accomplished some of my personal goals for my cheerleading career. I鈥檝e been extremely blessed with the opportunity to compete with the best gym in the world for 4 years now. I鈥檝e also always dreamed of making a world team, and this season I have accomplished that goal and competed on Cheer Athletics Fiercekatz. For little me to think about how I am competing on a world team at Cheer Athletics is crazy enough. I鈥檝e won some of the most prestigious competitions in the industry, but my ultimate goal is to win the Cheerleading Worlds and become a World Champion.
What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
Tomlin: The biggest challenge in my sport is definitely the mental aspect of cheer. I like to describe it as a switch. The second something doesn鈥檛 go right or there鈥檚 a bad practice, it seems like everything just shuts down and you get inside your head. This is definitely something I struggle with constantly. I like to manage this by trusting in my training and believing in myself that I can do hard things.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Tomlin: One of the best pieces of advice I鈥檝e received is to continue to trust the process because everything is a part of God’s plan for my life. This has stuck with me for a long time now and is something I remember when times get hard. I believe that everything is happening for a reason and that it will all work out in the end.
Do you have a saying or motto you like to live by?
Tomlin: The saying I love to live by is 鈥淎ll glory to God鈥�. This is something I write on my wrist for every single competition, along with Philippians 4:13. I use this as a reminder of my strength. This stands out to me because where I am at today is all because of Him. I wouldn鈥檛 have accomplished the things I have today or come this far if it wasn鈥檛 for God. So because of God, I owe everything to him. He deserves all the Glory!
What do you love about your sport?
Tomlin: The thing I love most about cheerleading is the feeling you get when you鈥檝e accomplished your goals after everything you鈥檝e been through. For a whole year we train to perfect our routines and for the countless hours in the gym to pay off is a worthwhile feeling. Winning some of the world鈥檚 most prestigious competitions is a feeling I can鈥檛 put into words. Finally reaching your dream after all the hard work feels indescribable. I also love the bonds I鈥檝e made from cheer. Through this sport, I have made some of the best friends imaginable who play such an important role in my life. These bonds are like no other and I can鈥檛 put into words how incredibly thankful I am to have these friends.
Do you play in college? If not, would you like to? If you aren鈥檛 college-age yet, what are your college goals?
Tomlin: I definitely think cheering in college is a goal of mine. Thinking about getting to experience game day sounds so fulfilling!
Anything else you鈥檇 like to share?
Tomlin: I鈥檝e been doing all-star cheer for 7 years now and it鈥檚 been the experience of a lifetime. I鈥檝e become a 2x Summit and 2x NCA champion and plan to keep training to reach more glory.
Where do you go to school?
Tomlin: I am currently a junior at Lovejoy High School.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Tomlin: Outside of my sport, I love hanging out with my friends and spending time with them. I also love to go shopping and go on fun car rides while listening to music.
How would you describe your personality?
Tomlin: I would describe my personality as quiet when you first meet me, but then fun and outgoing once you get to know me. I would say I鈥檓 shy on the outside but once I鈥檓 with people I know I love to have a good time.
What is your favorite snack food?
Tomlin: I love spicy snacks and my favorite is Takis.
What is your favorite song or music artist to get you ready for a game?
Tomlin: I love listening to Taylor Swift and One Direction when getting ready for a competition. They are some of my ultimate favorite artists with the best music to sing and dance to.
Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?
Tomlin: Superstitions are a big thing in cheer. I鈥檝e got many whether it鈥檚 something big or small. I like to eat the same breakfast and always have an energy drink. I listen to the same music each time getting ready. I visualize my routine by closing my eyes and playing my team’s music before I leave the house. I always eat a bag of 鈥渓ucky peanuts鈥� walking to warm-ups at the competitions. And I always pray to myself backstage right before we compete. There are definitely other tiny superstitions but those are some of the main ones.
What has being a member of your team taught you?
Tomlin: Being a member of my team has taught me to push through the hard times. There have been many hard practices we鈥檝e been through. But I know at the end of the day it鈥檚 helping us become our best selves and reach our goals.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?
Tomlin: There鈥檚 one particular coach I鈥檝e had and she is one of my biggest supporters. She always reminds me of my worth and talent when I need to hear it most. She always tells me to not get in my head and to remember how strong of an athlete I am.
Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
Tomlin: There was one time at a competition when I didn鈥檛 throw my tumbling pass because it was something I struggled with mentally. I beat myself up about it most of the time, but I knew I had my coaches, parents, and teammates who believed in me and my ability to do my pass. So, the next day at the competition I threw my pass with no struggle because I knew I had people who believed in me which helped me believe in myself.
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