Myra Bean

Shunbrea Wooten has been a cheerleader since kindergarten.

She refused to quit when things got tough and now she is living out her lifelong dream as the captain of the North Panola High School varsity cheerleader squad her senior season.

She is a leader at North Panola participating in sports and other academic activities. She sports a 3.6 grade point average, is a member of the BETA Club, Mu Alpha Theta and “I just joined six other clubs,” she said.

Her dedication as a student-athlete at North Panola earned her the first player spotlight of the season.

As with all athletes, her job requires a lot of hard work and dedication.

Wooten said what’s hard about cheerleading is learning the stunts and keeping the crowd in good spirits in the football and basketball games. Admittedly, that has not been the easiest part the last two years when the football team seems to be in a slump.

A couple times she has wanted to quit.

“Being out on the field and being on the basketball court is my motivation to keep going,” she said.

As captain and leader of the cheer squad, she hopes to teach those under her to be as motivated as she is.

“This is not an easy job,” she said.

Why is it not easy?

“It’s emotional and you get tired but you can’t stop. You have to keep motivating football players and basketball players.”

Following high school, Wooten plans to study pre-law at Mississippi State or Ole Miss, but she also wants to continue cheering while in college.