Sideline Star Pro Panel Spotlight: Maryna

Sidelinestar.com – the #1 site for cheer videos, spirit resources and routines you can learn from the pros is proud to feature a panel of Pro Cheer Leaders (PCL’s) that contribute their choreography, ideas, tips and advice to our community of cheerleaders & coaches. Get to know more about our Pro Cheer Leaders, starting with this week’s featured PCL, Maryna!

Are you a current or former Pro Cheerleader interested in joining our panel? Click here to submit an interest form!

Meet Maryna

Name: Maryna Wilkey
Teams (College & professional): Phoenix All-stars; Arizona State University Spirit Sqaud
Years on squads: PACE-1; ASU- 2
Occupation/school: Arizona State University
Degree: Elementary Education

What’s your favorite cheerleading memory?
My favorite cheerleading memory was  being on the football field right before kickoff, seeing 70,000 fans in the stands, and feeling the greatest rush of adrenaline as the fireworks were launched in the air as the team came running out on the field.
What do you do with your time outside of pro cheer & dance?

Outside of cheer, I like to read inspirational books, work out, go hiking, and spend time with friends and family.
What is your dream job?
My dream job is to be a teacher at a Christian elementary school.
What accomplishments are you most proud of (cheer and/or non-cheer related)?
I am proud of being a part of the Medallion Scholarship Program at ASU, being on the ASU Spirit Squad, keeping a 4.0 G.P.A. all throughout college, and being a part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization.
What was your prior cheerleading/dance experience?
As a child, my mom put me in dance and gymnastics for about seven years. When I got to middle school, I decided to try out for cheer, and I fell in love with it. I continued to do cheer throughout high school (at Deer Valley) and won 3 state and national championships. After high school, I went on to do all-stars and competed at Worlds receiving first place. After all-stars, I decided to take a year off from cheer and just focus on school. With that, I discovered how much I missed cheering, and I fulfilled my life-long dream by trying out for ASU’s Spirit Squad. Since making the team, I have never loved cheerleading more, and I am so blessed to be a part of the university’s cheer squad in the PAC-10 conference.

Photo credit: Ryan Dimal

What advice would you give to those auditioning for cheer & dance teams next season?

My advice would be to start early and work on any technical skills that the team calls for. Hard work pays off, and

coaches can tell who has the determination and passion for being on the team. Not only that, when auditioning, smile. A smile is a cheerleader’s greatest tool. Never stop smiling!

See a preview of Maryna’s Advanced Cheer Routine here. For hundreds of cheers & dances to learn step-by-step, join us at Sidelinestar.com!

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Tagged as: Arizona State University Spirit Line, Collegiate Cheerleaders, Pro Cheer Spotlight