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PAGE 10 - SOUTHWEST MESSENGER - <strong>December</strong> 1, <strong>2019</strong><br />
Free community meal<br />
Bethel Lutheran Church, 4501 Hoover<br />
Road in Grove City, will host a free community<br />
meal every third Saturday of each<br />
month. The food will be served from noon<br />
to 1 p.m. For more information, call the<br />
church office at 875-0510.<br />
JEFFREY P. COMPTON<br />
ATTORNEY AT LAW<br />
General Practice<br />
Personal Injury • Domestic<br />
Probate • Wills<br />
Power of Attorney<br />
Healthcare Documents<br />
FREE CONSULT & PARKING<br />
614-875-7233 Fax: 614-875-7207<br />
3894 Broadway, Grove City<br />
www.jeffreypcompton.com<br />
Email: jcompton@jeffreypcompton.com<br />
Beulah Park project<br />
A groundbreaking ceremony was recently<br />
held for Epcon Communities’ The Courtyards<br />
at Beulah Park project. Pictured<br />
here, from left to right, are: Joel Rhoades,<br />
Epcon Communities Regional President<br />
Columbus, General Counsel; future homeowner<br />
at The Courtyards at Beulah Park<br />
Adrienne Stubbins; Pat Kelley, owner of<br />
Falco, Smith & Kelley Ltd.; and musician,<br />
Bob Rizzo.<br />
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www.franklinheating.com<br />
In Achievement<br />
Something to cheer about<br />
By Dedra Cordle<br />
Staff Writer<br />
It was the moment Ashley Caldwell had waited years for, a<br />
chance to show the cheerleading coaches at Pleasant View Middle<br />
School that she had what it takes to make it as a member of their<br />
team.<br />
In front of the small audience, she cheered loud and jumped<br />
high, smiling wide though the nerves were wreaking havoc inside.<br />
When her routine finished, she thanked them for their time and<br />
said she hoped to be a part of the Panther pride.<br />
She was not chosen to be a part of the squad that year.<br />
It was a moment she had waited more than a year for, a chance<br />
to show the cheerleading coaches at her new middle school that<br />
she had what it takes to make it as a member of their team.<br />
In front of a small audience, she cheered louder and jumped<br />
higher, smiling wider though the nerves and memories of disappointment<br />
was wreaking havoc inside.<br />
Like the last time, she thanked the coaches at Norton Middle<br />
School for their time and said she hoped to be a part of the Wildcat<br />
team.<br />
She was not chosen to become a member of the squad that year.<br />
Ever since she was a little girl discovering the sport while channel<br />
surfing, Caldwell said she had wanted to be a cheerleader.<br />
“I just fell completely in love with it,” she said. “I loved their<br />
skills, their smiles and their spirit. I had it in my mind that it was<br />
what I wanted to do and I was going to try my hardest to do it.”<br />
She admitted that the rejection at the middle school level was<br />
hard on her.<br />
“I was really disappointed,” she said. “I have had this dream in<br />
my mind for so long and it just wasn’t happening for me at that<br />
time.”<br />
Instead of giving up, she decided to take a more active<br />
approach.<br />
“I was going to practice, practice and practice some more until<br />
I got better,” she said.<br />
And that is just what she did.<br />
“She was very dedicated to improving her skill set,” said her<br />
father Anthony. “When she wasn’t studying, she was online<br />
watching cheerleading videos and tutorials, taking notes on their<br />
routines and movements.”<br />
With more confidence in her abilities, Caldwell decided to try<br />
out for the cheerleading team when she entered ninth grade at<br />
Westland High School. She did what she did in the past — cheered<br />
loudly, jumped high and smiled through the nerves. The result,<br />
however, was different.<br />
“I will never forget the look on her face when she told us that<br />
she made the freshman team,” said Anthony. “She was so excited<br />
and just grinning from ear to ear.”<br />
Levon Maynard, the school’s head cheerleading coach, said she<br />
was taken by Caldwell’s demeanor and determination.<br />
“She is someone who never gives up,” said Maynard. “She doesn’t<br />
give up on herself and she won’t let any of the girls give up on<br />
themselves either.”<br />
She went on to earn the title of ‘Most Improved Cheerleader’ at<br />
the end of her freshman year.<br />
Shortly thereafter, Caldwell was attending a summer camp<br />
and learned that veteran cheerleaders are given the opportunity<br />
to try-out for All-American status with the National Cheerleaders<br />
Association. If they achieve that rank at the camp, they are invited<br />
to perform in either the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade<br />
or the New Year’s Day Parade in London, England.<br />
Caldwell said when she heard that bit of news, a new dream<br />
formed.<br />
“I knew I had to try out when the time came,” she said. “I didn’t<br />
think I would ever be selected but I knew I had to try.”<br />
This summer, Caldwell — now a senior — got up in front of the<br />
entire camp and a large group of professional judges and tried out<br />
for All-American status. She performed the routine they had<br />
Ashley Caldwell<br />
www.columbusmessenger.com<br />
learned the day before.<br />
When all of the hundred-plus cheerleading veterans had finished,<br />
the judges reminded them that they had to be very selective.<br />
“What we are looking for in our All-Americans is not only how<br />
they perform, but how they react when they mess up and how<br />
their coaches feel about their leadership abilities,” said Mike<br />
Fultz, the international event coordinator for Varsity Spirit.<br />
He said the organization takes the latter aspect more seriously<br />
than the former.<br />
“We are sending them off to be ambassadors for their school,<br />
their state and their country,” he said.<br />
Maynard said she could think of no better representative.<br />
“When it comes to her leadership abilities, Ashley is a coach’s<br />
dream,” she said. “She always gets our practices started on time<br />
and she is always giving encouragement to others.”<br />
She added that she was filled with pride when Ashley was<br />
selected to be an All-American at the UCA’s camp.<br />
“We have had several girls selected at these camps but she will<br />
be the first one to actually travel to London and participate in the<br />
parade,” she said. “This will be a wonderful opportunity not only<br />
for Ashley but for our entire squad as well.”<br />
Caldwell said though it has been months since her selection,<br />
she is still filled with excitement at the All-American selection and<br />
nervous energy as the parade date approaches.<br />
“I can’t wait to experience this,” she said. “I dreamed of this but<br />
never thought it would come true.”<br />
On Dec. 25, Caldwell will leave Columbus for New York City<br />
and then travel to London. There, she and 800 other All-<br />
Americans will roam the city’s famed streets, tour the city’s sites<br />
and celebrate the new year downtown with cheer.<br />
According to Fultz, more than a million people will watch the<br />
parade live in London and millions more will watch via live<br />
stream. Among those who will be glued to the computer will be<br />
Caldwell’s family, friends, coaches and peers.<br />
“I want to say that it is hard to believe that this is happening<br />
to Ashley but I can’t,” said Anthony. “She has faced setbacks and<br />
disappointment and judgment but she is still so determined to<br />
achieve her dreams.<br />
“All I can say is that I am proud of the person she is, and I am<br />
so proud that she will be representing our family, our community,<br />
our school, our district and even our country in London.”
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