SAFFORD — Safford Athletic Director Toni Corona has a question for those who don’t consider spiritline members athletes.
“I can look at a football player or someone else and say, ‘When was the last time you threw a human being in the air and caught them? Or had to hold them up?’ It takes them aback a little bit,” Corona said. “I see what these young ladies put in every single day.”
That effort paid off for Kloe Botkins, who is the first Safford High School spiritline athlete to sign with a college.
On Saturday, family, friends and former spiritline teammates joined in celebrating Botkins signing with Trinity Valley Community College, in Athens, Texas.
“It feels great. I’m really excited and honored to be the first,” Botkins said.
Botkins started taking gymnastic lessons at age 8, and began participating in competitive cheer in sixth grade.
“My mom put me in (gymnastics) when I was younger, and ever since then it’s just been natural,” Botkins said. “At first it was a little tough, but she (her mother) pushed me and I ended up doing it and now I love it.”
Botkins’ coach suggested she consider applying to Trinity Valley Community College, a nationally-ranked program that is featured in the Netflix docuseries “Cheer.”
She said she plans to attend a school practice in July, before moving in for the semester in mid-August.
