Brave cheerleader competes all alone at the state championship after squad quits

Katrina Kohel's inspiring story of courage and determination has resonated with people around the world. The 17-year-old Morrill High School senior found herself without teammates just days before the Nebraska State Cheerleading Championship—but instead of backing out, she chose to compete solo. Kohel's performance, captured on video, has earned her national admiration and respect. On February 17, she was scheduled to compete with her three teammates, but days before the event, they quit due to personal reasons. Despite this, Kohel’s coach encouraged her to attend, either as a spectator or competitor. Kohel chose to compete, determined to finish her senior year with a memorable moment. "I didn’t want to give up on cheerleading because it’s been such a huge part of my life," she told FOX Television Stations.

Kohel admitted she felt a wave of nervousness as she stepped into the arena—something she hadn’t felt before. But despite the nerves, she powered through her solo routine with energy and enthusiasm, earning cheers from the crowd and even her competitors. She described the experience as "amazing" and said it was humbling to receive so much support from those around her.

Kohel ended up placing 8th out of the 12 competing teams. The judges had to adjust her score since she could not perform certain stunts alone, but Kohel said she was proud of what she had achieved. She was also touched by the acclaim she received for going solo, saying it showed that with the right mindset and determination, anything is possible. Kohel's coach, April Ott, was also praising her for her performance, saying that the amount of love and support from the arena was "beyond phenomenal and rewarding". Ott added that it was an amazing end to Kohel's senior cheer career.

"I’m just so proud of Katrina and the performance she put on out there on the mat," Kohel’s coach, April Ott, said to FOX Television Stations. "The amount of love and support from the spectators and teams in that arena was absolutely phenomenal and rewarding." Kohel said that although one of her former teammates had apologized for quitting, she was not angry at them and respected their decision. Looking to the future, Kohel plans to enlist in the U.S. Air Force before going to college and is undecided as to whether she will keep cheerleading or hang up her pom-poms for good.

Katrina Kohel's story is one of courage and resilience. She is undoubtedly an inspiration to us all. Her determination to compete alone and finish what she had started is an example of the strength of the human spirit. Kohel has shown us that whenever people face adversity, it is possible for everyone to overcome any obstacle and achieve success.

This article originally appeared 1 year ago.