Photo courtesy of Jacob Dunkin
Mackenzie Garrett
Mackenzie is a senior at Plant City High School where she is a member of the Raiders varsity cheer team.
How long have you been a cheerleader?
I’ve been cheering for 7 years!
What’s your favorite thing about cheering on competition days?
I love being able to show everyone the hard work that we have put in and give it my all on the mat with my best friends.
Do you have a favorite moment while cheering for Plant City High School?
My favorite moment would have to be winning states last year, we worked so hard and it was such a happy day because all of our hard work paid off.
If you’re not cheerleading, what are you doing in your free time?
When I’m not cheering I hang out with my friends, which is mainly the girls from my team.
Do you plan on going to
college? If so, do you plan on trying out for cheer?
I plan to go to a Florida university but sadly I think this will be my last year cheering, I don’t plan to cheer in college.
Do you have any pre-game rituals before a competition or game day?
We usually all sing a fun song in a circle and dance to get us ready to perform.
What are your top songs to get you hyped and ready for game day?
I like to listen to “Up all night” by Drake and “Run this town” by Jay-Z.
What’s some advice you could give someone that’s looking to get into cheerleading for the first time?
I would say that even if it’s just an idea and something you think you would enjoy to definitely try out! If you work super hard in the offseason before tryouts, you never know what the outcome might be. You make the best memories and make friendships that could last a lifetime.
Who’s an artist that you want to see come to the Strawberry Festival this year?
I would love to have Megan Moroney come!!
What’s your favorite high school memory?
My favorite memory besides cheer was calendar girl, it was such a fun experience and I had so much fun with the girls backstage.