For Coweta High School senior Daisy Stone, cheerleading is more than a sport. It is a family tradition, a place to grow as a teammate and an opportunity to lead the Lady Tigers with energy and kindness.
Stone is one of the captains on Coweta’s varsity cheer team, where she performs as a center flyer and specializes in tumbling. Her work has earned recognition at cheer camps, including Best Jumps and Top Tumbler honors, while she has also been named an All-American four times. Stone recently added a 4-star cheer recruit designation from a college combine to her list of accomplishments.
Still, the honors that matter most to Stone are the ones that reflect how her teammates and opponents view her.
“But the awards/accomplishments I am most proud of are the ones presented to me by my peers. This includes being voted as Captain and Most Energetic by my squad members. I am also very proud to say I was given the Pin It Forward award on four separate occasions. This is a recognition chosen by opposing teams for kindness and leadership.”
Before focusing on cheer, Stone competed in track, golf and gymnastics. Those sports often emphasized individual performance, but cheer helped her understand the value of every person contributing to a shared goal.
“Cheer, however, is the ultimate team sport and has taught me how to be a better teammate. One of the many reasons I love the sport of cheer is seeing the different strengths each teammate brings to create one amazing routine. I think cheer has helped me appreciate people’s differences and has helped me to be a better team player in all aspects of life.”
Stone’s drive is rooted in a family history that stretches across generations. She grew up hearing stories from relatives who cheered in high school and college, including her 100-year-old great-grandmother, who was part of her school’s first cheer team.
“My parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all inspire me! In my family, cheerleading is part of our DNA and is a century-long family tradition. I grew up hearing stories of school pride from my mom, uncle, and cousins about their high school and collegiate years as cheerleaders. Also, my great-grandmother is 100 years old and proudly likes to talk about her days of being part of her high schools very first cheer team. I’m proud to continue my family’s legacy!”
Stone also credits Coweta head cheer coach Jodi Chronister and head track coach Scott Chronister for believing in her, pushing her and encouraging her on and off the field.
