Determined and ready, dynamo cheerleader Jillian Morrison doesn’t let her limb difference hold her back!
Inside Cheer caught up with Jillian to chat about her approach to cheer and the advice she would give to other cheerleaders.
Unstoppable!
Determined and ready, dynamo cheerleader Jillian Morrison doesn’t let her limb difference hold her back!
By Tessa DeMeyer
Before Jillian Morrison and her Airborne Training Center teammates took the NCA stage by storm in February, there was a time when simply competing seemed like a challenge. Because Jillian was born without her right hand and forearm, her mother, Kate, was hesitant to enroll her in tumbling classes. But Jillian didn’t let her limb difference stop her. She watched her older sister’s tumbling lessons on a monitor in the gym waiting room and followed along. Before long, she joined the classes.
Eventually, Jillian graduated to the gym’s cheer practice squad to learn the basics of the sport and tried out for a spot on a full-year team. Now, as a three-year veteran and a member of a junior level 2 team, Jillian “brings a light and an energy that is unmatched” to Airborne Training Center, says her coach, Kelly Foy.
Foy says Jillian gives it her all at every practice, supporting her teammates with everything she’s got. “Jillian lifts up the other flyers and tumblers in the gym, because she is so successful, performing most skills with impeccable technique, despite her limb difference,” Foy says. “Therefore, other athletes realize that they need to push even harder to keep up with her. She never backs down and she never gives up, and that is extremely evident to everyone in the gym!”
Outside of cheer, Jillian has learned to work around her limb difference. “Some things, like learning to zip her coat or tie her shoes, took some extra time to figure out,” says Kate. “But at this point, she is fairly self-sufficient in all areas of her daily life. Her coaches do have to take her limb difference into account when placing her, so that she can make connections. But most of the time, she is just another hardworking athlete on the team!”
Inside Cheer caught up with Jillian to chat about her approach to cheer and the advice she would give to other cheerleaders.
What do you love about cheerleading?
I love working together with my team, trying new stunts and achieving what we set out to do.
What is your favorite part of competing?
I love meeting new friends! I have met cheerleaders from all over the country, and that is so much fun! I like to watch other teams compete and cheer them on. With my own team, I love the challenge of performing and leaving it all on the mat for 2 minutes and 30 seconds!
Is there a cheerleader or a team that you look up to?
Morgan Simianer from Navarro College is my favorite cheerleader. She has overcome some challenges in her life in order to be able to cheer. I like that she never gave up. She has a coach that believes in her, like my coaches believe in me. Morgan is never afraid to try new things. I hope I can be as good as she is someday!
What has been your biggest accomplishment in cheer?
Our gym competed at NCA for the first time ever this season. My team, Bulletproof, won our division. Becoming an NCA champion was a dream come true. It was definitely my biggest cheer accomplishment to date.
What advice would you give to other cheerleaders?
I would tell them that you can do anything you set out to do with the support of your coaches and team. Work hard, and don’t give up!
