Spring semester signing day happened Wednesday, Feb. 7. Signers included athletes from all sports including football, rugby, and wrestling. However, one that stood out was a cheer commitment. Rarely has that been seen at Westside and it caught a lot of people’s attention. Isabel Kleidosty partakes in cheerleading not for the school, but for a competitive company. Elite Cheer Stars is a company out of Omaha that has a silver world medalist and a gold world medalist in the last two summer Olympic games. Competitive cheer is almost nothing like the cheering most people are familiar with. This type of cheering is almost more like gymnastics. Using tumbling and stunting as a focal point.
Isabel is committed to cheer at Oklahoma State University next year and she could not be more excited. Oklahoma State has a storied history in cheerleading and for her it was the obvious choice.
“Oklahoma state has been in my top three schools for as long as I can remember,” Kleidosty said. “The atmosphere of the college/program just had something special to it. There cheer/stunt program has brought many national titles home year after year. Once I went to visit Oklahoma State and was able to experience seeing how the coaches and athletes worked I knew that, that was the only place that i wanted to go.”
There are many aspects to cheerleading on the level that she is at. Hard work, determination, and always having a clear mindset are always important to succeed.
“I have been cheering for 11 years so far and every year has taught me something new,” Kleidosty said. “I have gone to two different cheer gyms and each one holding different opportunities. Every season is something different whether that being coaches, athletes, mindsets, making the journey through all of my years of cheer that much more special, while learning how to better myself as a All-star cheerleader.”
Like she said, Isabel has been cheering for most of her life. 11 years is a long time and in that that time she had learned lots of very valuable lessons that she hopes will take her far.
“I have been very grateful to be able to experience All-star cheer at this level,” Kleidosty said. “To learn and grow every year as a person and athlete. Cheer started out as a fun activity on the side but then it grew into something more than that. I have learned new skills either tumbling or stunting helping me become better. But also being able to takeaway how cheer has grown me as a person learning lessons and new things every season.”
To go for that long and not lose passion is impressive. Lots of athletes consistently lose interests in sports after that long. Not Isabel though. She had a trusted circle of people around her and pushing her to be the best she could be.
“My parents have always supported my decisions and my goals in life,” Kleidosty said. “So when I did mention that I wanted to start cheer at six years only they put me in a uniform and signed me up for tryouts. Every step of the way they have been by my side and I am so grateful to have such supporting parents in my life. my coaches and teammates have grown me as a person is hundreds of different ways. Having coaches who you have been with for five or six years now growing with you helping you every step of the way has been so beneficial to me when trying to go to the next level with cheer, and they have always pushed me to be the best I can be.”
Cheering on the collegiate level will be a big step up for Kleidosty. Much less cheering at the division one level like she is. She has big ambitions and cannot wait to get started at Oklahoma State.
“My goals are to better myself as an athlete, contribute as much as I can to my new team” Kleidosty said “Hopefully bring home a national championship for cheer and stunt team. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to cheer at the next level for the next four years at Oklahoma State University.”
