Extreme Spirit All-star cheerleader Mercedes Burnette has been cheering since she was in the fifth grade.

“Extreme Spirit All-stars is a program that we all share Christ together and go to competitions; Cindy Cumbo is our head coach,” Burnette explained. “This year we are going to Cheer Sport, which is televised on ESPN, and nationals at Charlotte with the Christian Cheerleaders of America (CCA),” she added.

Burnette plays the base and back spot positios for Extreme and hopes to attend Liberty University on a scholarship to cheer.

“It would be a great experience to have the opportunity to cheer in college; my coach would be very proud of me,” stated the Extreme cheerleader.

Burnette also shared that she would like to major in elementary education and one day become a cheerleading coach.

Next summer, she noted, she plans to travel all over the country and tell people about Christ with the CCA program. “I like to show people that you can find the glory of God through things like cheerleading. One of our cheerleaders, Pete Graham, got saved through this program,” attested Burnette.

“It felt really good to have Pete come and believe in Christ,” she added.

The All-star cheerleader said her role model is her mom. “She has always supported me in everything that I do and is always there for me,” expressed Burnette. She also noted that her mom is the cheerleading coach at Union Middle School.

“I also look up to David Nasser; he is the youth minister at the student life camp, and he was the one that lead me to Christ,” shared the cheerleader.

When talking about this upcoming season, Burnette said, “I expect us to be the best squad that we possibly can be.”

The Extreme All-star cheerleader stated that her coach, Cindy Cumbo, inspires her to cheer. “She is always there for me and is my leader; I always look up to her.”

“Cheering has done a lot for me; it has kept me close to Christ and shown me how to be a leader; I can be myself at cheerleading,” she expressed.

Burnette begins her senior year at Clinton High School in just a few days, She is a member of the Key Club, Native American Student Association (NASA), and the Renaissance Club.

Burnette told that she would like to thank God; Cindy Cumbo; her parents; family; friends; her church, Holly Grove Holiness Church; and The Sampson Independent for doing the interview.