The First Exposure

Don’t get me wrong, I still loved gymnastics and took pride in the fact that I could do a back handspring, but over time I became rusty and was content with playing basketball. I put everything I had into the sport, so when I was cut from the team my sophomore year I was partially devastated. Everyone else in my family was so good and athletic, and without basketball, I was now officially just the nerd. I ended up running cross country and loving it, but I still felt there had to be a sport I was good at. During my junior year my cheerleader friend invited me to watch the high school squad’s state dress rehearsal, and I was eager to go (mostly due to the fact that I had been in love with her since the seventh grade). As I watched their routine (which was AMAZING and they ended up winning state!) I couldn’t help but think, “I could probably do that.” I even remember thinking that if anybody got hurt before the performance then I could learn the routine and step in. Yeah right. They would totally just get one of the JV girls, but it made me really excited thinking about it. Ps. I didn’t actually want any of them to get hurt I don’t think. When I got home that night I considered trying out for the squad my senior year, but quickly put off the thought. Hello. I live in southwest Missouri. I am a guy. I would be massacred by other guys in the school. Nope. I will just have to be the smart one who runs cross country.