After 12 years cheerleading, Baker University senior Graci Nobo is closing her collegiate career all the while reflecting on growth, leadership and a program that continues to grow. The backspot from Lawrence, Kan., Nobo said she first discovered the sport in middle school and quickly became hooked.
“I started cheerleading in middle school and instantly fell in love with everything it was… the uniforms, the bows, the stunts,” she said. “It was like no other sport I had done before.”
That early passion carried her to one of the defining moments of her career: competing at the Universal Cheerleaders Association College Nationals. At nationals, Nobo and her teammates made program history, becoming the first Baker cheer team to place in the top five in a gameday routine. A milestone she marked as a sign of the program’s growth.
Since her freshman year, Nobo said her biggest development has been in confidence and leadership.
“Cheer is an inherently outgoing sport, and it has truly shaped who I am today,” she said. “The experiences I’ve had have helped me become a leader for my teammates, [which is] something I’m incredibly proud of.”
While performances may appear effortless, Nobo emphasized the physical and mental demands of the sport.
“What many people don’t see is just how demanding Cheeris,” she said. “It pushes your body to the limit from early July through April. It’s mentally and physically exhausting and highly time-consuming.”
For Nobo, the team itself has been the most meaningful part of her experience and describes the culture as both competitive and supportive.
“Our team thrives off competitiveness, love and pure laughter,” she said. “They’ll push you to your breaking point, but they’ll always catch you when you fall… literally.”
As her senior season and time as a cheerleader comes to a close, Nobo said the transition is bittersweet.
“I have put so much into cheer that leaving this world as an athlete is a door I’m not ready to close,” she said. “But I can look back and feel so much happiness for the experience I had here.”
Looking ahead, Nobo plans to move to Connecticut for an internship with Yale Law while also assisting with the university’s cheer team.
She said cheerleading has prepared her for life beyond college in many ways, particularly in handling pressure.
“One thing I will always be thankful for is learning that pressure is a privilege,” she said.
