July 17, 2019 at 05:43PM
Jul 17, 2019
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Connersville senior Katelyn Burris signs her letter-of-intent to become a cheerleader at Ball State University. From left: Athletic Director Brent Duncan, mom April Burris, Katelyn Burris, dad Wayne Burris, Ball State coach David Holloway, CHS cheerleading coach Jenny Mitchell and gymnastics coach Joann Borders.
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Connersville's Katelyn Burris spends time cheering inside Spartan Bowl. Burris spent four years on the cheerleading squad at CHS, and will continue cheering at the college level in 2019-20.
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Connersville cheerleader Katelyn Burris roots on the Connersville boys basketball team during a game at Franklin County on Feb. 15. Burris will continue her cheering career at Ball State University, beginning in the fall.
By GRADY TATE - gtate@newsexaminer.com
Finding a reason to cheer has never been much of a problem for Katelyn Burris.
In fact, she'll tell you that putting on a uniform and cheering for Connersville High School has been one of the best experiences throughout her four years at the school.
There is a saying embraced by some that says that all good things must come to an end, however.
Keeping with that, sadly, the 2019 graduate from the school won't be wearing that uniform anymore.
But there is another adage, a more encouraging one that says, when one door closes, another one opens.
Again, Burris is the example for that, as she's found that door on the campus at Ball State University, the next stop for the 18-year-old.
Once there, she will probably experience a case of deja vu, when she's handed her new cheerleading outfit. Ball State's colors are Cardinal Red and White, very similar to Connersville's.
In addition to Ball State, Burris said she entertained thoughts of attending Purdue, Indiana State, and the University of Southern Indiana.
But her decision to cheer for BSU won the day.
"I just really loved the environment at the school, it's very homey there," she said, when asked what ultimately settled the issue. "The coaches there are the kind of people that want to help guide me, both as a cheerleader and in my life outside of cheer.
"Those are the kind of coaches that I have always loved and that's what I was looking for."
Burris' father, Wayne, has had some severe health issues in recent years, and as such, being close to both him and her mother, April, was perhaps an even bigger factor.
"With my dad's health issues, I really wanted to be close to home," she said of the 50-mile commute from Connersville to the school.
Making it onto the cheerleading squad wasn't easy, particularly in this case.
"It was very competitive," she pointed out. "This year, Ball State is cutting the number of cheerleaders from 45 down to 30. That has made this entire process that much more difficult."
She is referring to the tryout process, something that typical athletes don't have to do in order to get a college scholarship.
For baseball, basketball, football and players in just about every other sport, college coaches are already familiar with the players they are recruiting based on what they have accomplished on high school fields, courts, tracks, and swimming pools.
For cheerleaders, however, getting onto a college squad requires a try out.
"It was very nerve-racking," Burris said about being judged at BSU. "There is just so much to learn at the college level, and there were times when they had me perform stunting exercises that I had never done before."
To get through that, Burris said she called on a lot of experience, gained in Spartan Bowl and other venues.
"I really have to thank Sandee's Snedeker-Toschlog for all that she's taught me in dance," she began, before adding, "I also need to thank Joann Borders for all she's done for me in gymnastics. That has allowed me to stay in shape and has kept me strong."
And then, of course there is Jenny Mitchell, cheerleading coach for the Lady Spartans.
"Jenny really taught me the qualities of cheerleading, and helped me a lot with the basics of stunting, things that I really needed during the try outs," Burris said.
With the "how" figured out, the question of "why" isn't far behind.
"I want to better myself doing something that I love," she said when asked what she hoped to accomplish as a college cheerleader. "This has been a dream come true for me, but I don't want it to end here. I want to be a role model for younger girls to follow."
But there is an even bigger cause at stake here, something that is driving her to pursue nursing as her degree.
"With my dad's health the way it is, there have been many people (in the medical field) that have done so many amazing things for him," she said. "I really want to give something back for those people.
"I want to do this for all of them."
Know how and a positive attitude can take someone a long way. For Katelyn Burris, wisely using both will get her where she hopes to go.
That, and a healthy amount of good cheer.
Jul 17, 2019
1 / 3
Connersville senior Katelyn Burris signs her letter-of-intent to become a cheerleader at Ball State University. From left: Athletic Director Brent Duncan, mom April Burris, Katelyn Burris, dad Wayne Burris, Ball State coach David Holloway, CHS cheerleading coach Jenny Mitchell and gymnastics coach Joann Borders.
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Connersville's Katelyn Burris spends time cheering inside Spartan Bowl. Burris spent four years on the cheerleading squad at CHS, and will continue cheering at the college level in 2019-20.
3 / 3
Connersville cheerleader Katelyn Burris roots on the Connersville boys basketball team during a game at Franklin County on Feb. 15. Burris will continue her cheering career at Ball State University, beginning in the fall.
By GRADY TATE - gtate@newsexaminer.com
Finding a reason to cheer has never been much of a problem for Katelyn Burris.
In fact, she'll tell you that putting on a uniform and cheering for Connersville High School has been one of the best experiences throughout her four years at the school.
There is a saying embraced by some that says that all good things must come to an end, however.
Keeping with that, sadly, the 2019 graduate from the school won't be wearing that uniform anymore.
But there is another adage, a more encouraging one that says, when one door closes, another one opens.
Again, Burris is the example for that, as she's found that door on the campus at Ball State University, the next stop for the 18-year-old.
Once there, she will probably experience a case of deja vu, when she's handed her new cheerleading outfit. Ball State's colors are Cardinal Red and White, very similar to Connersville's.
In addition to Ball State, Burris said she entertained thoughts of attending Purdue, Indiana State, and the University of Southern Indiana.
But her decision to cheer for BSU won the day.
"I just really loved the environment at the school, it's very homey there," she said, when asked what ultimately settled the issue. "The coaches there are the kind of people that want to help guide me, both as a cheerleader and in my life outside of cheer.
"Those are the kind of coaches that I have always loved and that's what I was looking for."
Burris' father, Wayne, has had some severe health issues in recent years, and as such, being close to both him and her mother, April, was perhaps an even bigger factor.
"With my dad's health issues, I really wanted to be close to home," she said of the 50-mile commute from Connersville to the school.
Making it onto the cheerleading squad wasn't easy, particularly in this case.
"It was very competitive," she pointed out. "This year, Ball State is cutting the number of cheerleaders from 45 down to 30. That has made this entire process that much more difficult."
She is referring to the tryout process, something that typical athletes don't have to do in order to get a college scholarship.
For baseball, basketball, football and players in just about every other sport, college coaches are already familiar with the players they are recruiting based on what they have accomplished on high school fields, courts, tracks, and swimming pools.
For cheerleaders, however, getting onto a college squad requires a try out.
"It was very nerve-racking," Burris said about being judged at BSU. "There is just so much to learn at the college level, and there were times when they had me perform stunting exercises that I had never done before."
To get through that, Burris said she called on a lot of experience, gained in Spartan Bowl and other venues.
"I really have to thank Sandee's Snedeker-Toschlog for all that she's taught me in dance," she began, before adding, "I also need to thank Joann Borders for all she's done for me in gymnastics. That has allowed me to stay in shape and has kept me strong."
And then, of course there is Jenny Mitchell, cheerleading coach for the Lady Spartans.
"Jenny really taught me the qualities of cheerleading, and helped me a lot with the basics of stunting, things that I really needed during the try outs," Burris said.
With the "how" figured out, the question of "why" isn't far behind.
"I want to better myself doing something that I love," she said when asked what she hoped to accomplish as a college cheerleader. "This has been a dream come true for me, but I don't want it to end here. I want to be a role model for younger girls to follow."
But there is an even bigger cause at stake here, something that is driving her to pursue nursing as her degree.
"With my dad's health the way it is, there have been many people (in the medical field) that have done so many amazing things for him," she said. "I really want to give something back for those people.
"I want to do this for all of them."
Know how and a positive attitude can take someone a long way. For Katelyn Burris, wisely using both will get her where she hopes to go.
That, and a healthy amount of good cheer.