Lakeland's Brae Abdon is The Ledger's 2021-22 Cheer Athlete of the Year
As a main base, Lakeland High School’s Brae Abdon continuously encourages her teammates to execute routines.
After winning four straight state titles and earning her way to the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships at the Walt Disney World Resort in February, Abdon was doing much of the same, especially in two categories the team scored perfect in.
The Dreadnaughts had zero deductions in the finals and semifinals on that weekend, and while the team didn’t win the national championship — Lakeland placed second for the third straight year — Abdon thought the team performed at its best.
“Just going out there and fighting for the championship," Abdon said. "We had two of our best performances, and just going out there and just knowing that we did what we had to do, which is memorable because we’ve never had almost perfect performances.
"So this year we did, and although we didn’t win, I probably could speak for our team and say this was our best year at nationals. I think for the future returners that are going next year, they know what they have to do, and they’re going to know how to push their teammates, so hopefully, one day we become national champions."
Abdon's strong performances, leadership traits, technical ability while paving the way for a winning cheer culture at Lakeland High earned her The Ledger’s 2021-22 Cheer Athlete of the Year award.
All year the senior exhibited the ability to execute hand-to-hand, 1½ ups, high-to-high full-arounds, and a switch-up 360.
“We are extremely proud of Brae,” Lakeland assistant coach Madison Mitchell said. “She has attended college clinics each year to learn more elite stunting skills. Any skill that we challenged her to learn she did. When building a routine, we knew that she would be able to execute the skills needed in the partner stunts and pyramid section.”
Weightlifting rejuvenates team
There’s another reason why Abdon and Lakeland developed into one of the best Polk County cheer teams this season.
Abdon and her teammates took advantage of weightlifting classes organized by the Lakeland administration that began in April and continued through February three to four times per week. The weightlifting work enabled Abdon and the team to focus more on the execution of routines as opposed to the physical portion.
“There was never really an off-day,” Abdon said. “I can remember going into practice and my legs would be so sore. And I just knew that at the end of the day, my legs being sore, it was going to pay off, and it did.”
The fruits of this labor were immediate. Lakeland placed second in the regional competition for the first time in school history. And those results inspired the team to up weightlifting days from four days per week to five before state, which Lakeland won for the fourth straight year.
Individually, Abdon was inspired by her mother and coach, Crystal Abdon, who cheered at George Jenkins.
“I’m thankful for my parents that have pushed me throughout everything because I can just remember … (and) I was just like, ‘I just can’t do it anymore.’ My parents would coach me up. I’m just proud of and so thankful for everyone in my life that has helped me become the person I am today.”
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Cheer Athlete of the Year: Brae Abdon uses motivation, weightlifting to help team win
