May 15, 2019 at 09:30AM
HARLAN, Ky. (WYMT) - When you think of the University of Kentucky, the first thing that comes to mind is probably basketball.
But John Calipari's program isn't the most successful team in Lexington. With 24 national championships, UK Cheerleading takes the cake.
Following his signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon, Harlan's Brady Adkins is set to join UK's ranks.
"It's been a dream of mine to be a Kentucky cheerleader for years now, and to finally see it come true is a blessing," Adkins said.
The Harlan senior went through the rigorous process of joining the 24-time champions in Lexington, and now he gets a chance to add to that total and cheer on the sidelines.
"I'm most excited about cheering home football games, just cause the atmosphere," Adkins added.
It's a dream that would not have happened without a little push during Adkins's freshman year.
"We just talked to him and told him that his tumbling was phenomenal, and that we felt like he just needed to give it a try," Tracy Gilbert said, Adkins's high school cheer coach.
That uncertainty added to the fact that Adkins was one of the only males in a female-dominated sport.
"It was hard, cause he's the only boy in this area that's on a cheer squad," Gilbert said.
However, all Adkins needed was that little push to make the sport his own.
"He just took off, like I said, and he just became very athletic with it. He turned it into a sport," Gilbert added about the UK commit.
For anyone, getting on to Kentucky's cheer team provides a tall task, especially for someone from eastern Kentucky.
"To get that opportunity to be from this area, it's a great opportunity, but he has worked hard," Gilbert said."
But Adkins wants to bring what cheerleading has taught him to the big stage at Kentucky.
"Cheerleading has taught me a lot of leadership skills and to be more creative," Adkins said.
You can find Brady Adkins on the sidelines next season at UK football and basketball games, cheering on the Wildcats.
HARLAN, Ky. (WYMT) - When you think of the University of Kentucky, the first thing that comes to mind is probably basketball.
But John Calipari's program isn't the most successful team in Lexington. With 24 national championships, UK Cheerleading takes the cake.
Following his signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon, Harlan's Brady Adkins is set to join UK's ranks.
"It's been a dream of mine to be a Kentucky cheerleader for years now, and to finally see it come true is a blessing," Adkins said.
The Harlan senior went through the rigorous process of joining the 24-time champions in Lexington, and now he gets a chance to add to that total and cheer on the sidelines.
"I'm most excited about cheering home football games, just cause the atmosphere," Adkins added.
It's a dream that would not have happened without a little push during Adkins's freshman year.
"We just talked to him and told him that his tumbling was phenomenal, and that we felt like he just needed to give it a try," Tracy Gilbert said, Adkins's high school cheer coach.
That uncertainty added to the fact that Adkins was one of the only males in a female-dominated sport.
"It was hard, cause he's the only boy in this area that's on a cheer squad," Gilbert said.
However, all Adkins needed was that little push to make the sport his own.
"He just took off, like I said, and he just became very athletic with it. He turned it into a sport," Gilbert added about the UK commit.
For anyone, getting on to Kentucky's cheer team provides a tall task, especially for someone from eastern Kentucky.
"To get that opportunity to be from this area, it's a great opportunity, but he has worked hard," Gilbert said."
But Adkins wants to bring what cheerleading has taught him to the big stage at Kentucky.
"Cheerleading has taught me a lot of leadership skills and to be more creative," Adkins said.
You can find Brady Adkins on the sidelines next season at UK football and basketball games, cheering on the Wildcats.