Quiarra Cooper has seen plenty of success in her time with the Plant City Dolphins. The three-year cheerleader, always eager to show her skills flipping and tumbling, has been on the sideline for plenty of football wins and been in the thick of national competition in several United Youth Football League national cheer championships here in Plant City. Cooper and the Dolphins have won UYFL gold and she wears her championship jacket with pride.
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How long have you been with the Dolphins?
Three years.
How did you get into cheerleading?
I used to play basketball and there was a cheer team. I watched them all the time and I wanted to do it.
What made you stick with it?
It was fun, and I have friends on the team.
What’s your favorite thing about the sport?
Flipping.
What’s the coolest thing you can do?
A back flip.
What’s your favorite cheerleading memory?
The UYFL nationals last year.
What was that competition like?
It wasn’t that hard because other teams were not that hard to go against.
What’s something about cheerleading you think everybody should know before they try it?
It’s hard.
What’s some great advice a coach has given you?
Don’t think you can’t do something.
What’s a big obstacle you had to beat in cheerleading?
I wanted to learn how to do a flip and I couldn’t do it. But then I got it. It took six months. When we went to UYFL last year, I got it.
How did you feel when you finally got it?
It was good.
Do you play any other sports besides cheerleading and basketball?
At school, I play sports sometimes if I sign up, like volleyball and track.
What school do you go to?
Tomlin Middle.
What’s your favorite subject?
Math.
What’s a sport you never tried but would if you could?
Soccer.
What athletes do you look up to?
Gabby Douglas, the gymnast.
How do you get ready for a big meet and get in the zone?
Stretch and watch videos from last year of competitions that we won.
What do you do best as a cheerleader?
Tumbling and doing flips.
What was the toughest competition you were ever in?
UYFL two years ago because we didn’t have that many people on the team. One of our coaches helped us and helped my coach out. We got third place, I think.