Seneca High School cheerleader Mina Merriman spoke to Prep Sports about her life in a recent interview.

PREP SPORTS: What are your personal goals for the year?

My personal goals are to push myself to not only become a better athlete but also a good teammate. 

PREP SPORTS: What is your favorite athletic memory?

My favorite memory would definitely be state, from the time we left school on Friday until we got back Sunday at 2 in the morning. I loved all the memories we made on the whole trip. We had fun playing games on the bus ride up to Cape Girardeau. We ate at Texas Roadhouse and had the waiter yell for our coach Nita about going to state. When we made it to the hotel we put on our matching pajamas and took a bunch of pictures together. We were all so excited to wake up the next day and perform the best routine on the state mat. The morning of state we all helped each other get ready by doing each other’s hair and makeup. When we got to the arena we were all focused and hyping each other up. In the warm-up room, we prayed and walked out feeling confident. Walking out on the mat is one of the best feelings. Once we started the routine I felt calm, performed, and just had fun with it. My favorite part of the routine was seeing all of the parents stand up when we hit our core stunts and pyramid. When our name got called for first place we all jumped up and hugged each other because we knew we just made Seneca history. 

PREP SPORTS: What teammate has left the biggest impression on you and why?

Taya Stewart has made the biggest impression on me because she’s always uplifting and supportive. She’s a great leader and an amazing captain for our team. She’s always so encouraging and motivating and pushes the team to be our best. 

PREP SPORTS: What is your favorite part of being on this team?

My favorite part of being on this team would be the friendships and memories that come with it. We spend the summer together, go to cheer camp, compete at regionals and state, and cheer at football and basketball games and we all have the strongest bond from it. 

PREP SPORTS: Do you participate in any community service projects?

Me and Jacee both helped coach the 6th grade cheer team this year. 

PREP SPORTS: What Clubs or Campus groups are you involved with and why?

I have been a part of the Student Council for three years now and I love being able to help plan and put together some of the events for our school. 

PREP SPORTS: What has your sport taught you that you use in your daily life?

My sport has taught me to be patient and trust the process. In cheer, I have to be patient when learning new skills or trying new stunts and I have to trust myself and my group to hit the new skills. 

PREP SPORTS: What is the best advice that anyone has given you?

The best advice anyone has given me would be to focus on what I can control in life. I use this not only in cheer but in my daily life too. 

PREP SPORTS: Who inspires you and why?

My mom because she always strives to do the best she can in everything she does and she’s always there for me when I need her to be. I don’t know where I would be without my mom. 

PREP SPORTS: Here is your chance to give a shoutout or say thank you to anyone you wish.

I would like to say thank you to my parents for always being patient with me and always having my back. 

I would also like to say thank you to Nita Hanes because she has done so much for the team this year and I could not thank her enough. She always wants what’s best for us and she’s always pushing us to be the best we can be.