Sammie Johns '27 Recruiting Profile

I plan to win, I prepare to win and I expect to win.  Last season, as an 8th grader, I was a flyer on the Good Hope High School Varsity competition cheer team. We placed 2nd in State (Alabama) in the 4A division and I cannot wait to get back on the mat to compete for the State Championship again this year.  While 2nd place was a huge accomplishment, particularly with a young team, I despise losing so I put in the work every single day to ensure that I am the best flyer I can be for my team as we compete in the upcoming season.  It is my mission to be a part of a team that brings home a state championship for my school before I graduate high school.  

Though we came up short last year at State, it was an honor to be entrusted by my coach and the upperclassman on my team to take center stage with them on the mat.  Our team brought home the County Championship (Cullman, AL) in both Game Day and Traditional, placed 1st in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Regionals, placed 2nd in the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Championships (4A), and placed 15th in the country at The National Cheer Championships in Orlando.

Currently, I am training daily to continue to grow my skills.  In addition to the mandatory tumble, stunting and workouts for my team, I attend as many stunting and tumbling clinics as I can schedule, take private tumble lessons at my local gym and have regular training sessions with former male University of Alabama cheerleaders to further prepare me to attain the ultimate goal of cheering for an elite college program.

Competitive cheer has allowed me to experience the rewards of discipline, drive, mental toughness, teamwork and most importantly, work ethic.  The thrill of hitting a stunt you once thought was impossible, throwing a new tumble skill for the first time, performing for the judges and crowds and knowing that you have to give the best 2 1/2 minutes of your life are the things I love most about this sport.  While I live for the pressure and excitement of competing, I know the work I do in empty gyms after practice, late nights, early mornings and weekends is what wins championships and what is required to allow me to achieve my goal of earning a position on a collegiate cheer team.

The confidence and desire to win cheer has given me has carried over into every area of my life.  I took honors classes in middle school and finished with a 4.0 GPA.  I was a student council member throughout middle school and was elected president my 8th grade year.  I was able to serve my fellow students by spearheading an initiative to ensure that new or less social students felt connected and included and also solicited and received private donations to purchase latches to replace broken or missing hardware in the middle school female restrooms.

It was also an honor to be chosen by my classmates as one of their football homecoming representatives in 6th, 7th and 8th grades.  I was crowned Good Hope Middle School Homecoming Queen in 8th grade and princess as a 7th grader. 

I was not a member of the Good Hope Middle School cheer team in 8th grade since I was moved up to varsity but as a flyer on the GHMS cheer team in 7th grade, my team won the Cullman County cheer competition in both the gameday and traditional divisions.  Prior to cheering in middle school I competed on an All Star Cheer team for a couple of seasons.  

In addition to cheer, I was a member of the Good Hope High School varsity track team as a 7th grader and primarily competed in 400m hurdles and 400m relay.  Our team won the Cullman County Track Championship (girls) and my 400 meter relay team qualified for State.  It was a surreal and exciting experience to complete in the Alabama 4A high school state track meet as a 7th grader. 

While I enjoyed track, I opted to focus solely on cheer as an 8th grader but certainly believe it helped prepare me both physically and mentally for competition against older athletes at the State level.  When I was placed in the same situation in cheer as an 8th grader, I believe I had more confidence due to my experience the previous year in track. 

In addition to sports, I also enjoy competing in a few pageants per year and have won several titles.  I enjoy the camaraderie, glitz, glamor and competition of pageants and always have great time.  I am not as experienced in competing in pageants as in cheer so it pushes me outside my comfort zone and ultimately helps to improve my poise and confidence under pressure.

As I progress through high school and in anticipation for college, I intend to continue to take honors classes, maintain a 4.0 GPA and further develop my tumbling and stunting skills.  I enjoy traveling and would love to check off all 50 states in the next few years and travel abroad as much as possible.  I hope to start working on getting my pilot’s license through our local community college aviation program while still in high school.  In my downtime, I like to hang out with friends and, of course, Bruiser, my 5 lbs mini chiweenie rescue who is likely the neediest and most extra dog in the history of dogs!   My long-term plans are to major in journalism in undergrad and attend law school after receiving my undergraduate degree.  

It is my intention to use my education, skills and experience to ultimately have a career as a sports reporter, legal correspondent and/or practicing attorney.

While my goals are big, my determination to succeed is as high as my aspirations.  As a child of University of Alabama alumni, a reverence for Bear Bryant was instilled in me from birth. There is nothing better than the fans’ reactions when his speeches are replayed at games.  I know achieving my goal of becoming a college cheerleader will not be easy but the Bear said it best:  “If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards.”