Sherando High School 17-year-old senior
Sport: Cheerleading. Position: Base
Parents: Emily Carper and Brian Funk
Hometown: Middletown
What do you love about cheerleading?: I love the connections I’ve made with the people and just how I got to grow as a person and as a cheerleader while doing it.
Most memorable moment in cheerleading: It’s actually our last competition that we just had [at Skyline]. We placed the highest we have in the past, I think, eight years when we got second place. It was just an amazing feeling being able to celebrate that with everybody.
Most embarrassing moment in cheerleading: My freshman year, I was sick for a whole week. Then I came back on a Friday for a football game, I threw my roundoff tuck, and I face-planted. And then you hear the whole crowd just say, ‘Oh my gosh.’
Most difficult moment in cheerleading: Last year, we were at a competition, and in the beginning routine, I was facing a girl, and she stomped on my face. I kind of blacked out. I don’t remember the rest of the routine, but I continued the rest of it with a smile on my face. But once I walked out, I passed out in the back.
Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: I would do my grandmother, Patti Funk. She passed away my freshman year, and I would just love to talk to her one more time. And then I would put my mom and then my grandma because they’ve been some of my biggest supporters I’ve ever had.
Biggest athletic influence?: Definitely, my coaches, Mrs. [Taylor] Blandford and coach [Tom] Grim, because they’ve just pushed me to be who I am today. They’re brand new this year (Grim returned after a five-year absence), and they’ve helped me gain my courage back. They’ve just always been really supportive.
Favorite teacher: [Sherando history teacher] Mr. [Cory] Luttrell. I had him my freshman and sophomore years, and I still talk to him like every day in school. This past summer, we went on a school trip, and he was one of the chaperones. It was for 15 days in Europe, and we talked most of the time.
Favorite athlete: Simone Biles
Favorite sports team: Washington Commanders
Favorite movie: “Twisters”
Favorite TV show: “Modern Family”
Favorite song: “White Ferrari” by Frank Ocean
Favorite food: Mozzarella sticks at Sheetz
Worst thing you’ve eaten: Any seafood. I just don’t like the taste or texture of it in my mouth.
Plans after high school: I want to go to college for elementary education and am trying to do the five-year master’s program, but I don’t know what college I want to go to yet. In my family, mostly all the women are teachers, and I’ve just always been around that. I started this class last year called early childhood education, and we go into elementary schools and get to work with the kids and teach them lessons. I just like seeing the kids grow.
— Compiled by Justin Robertson
