Neelyville’s Haley Edwards walked into Three Rivers cheerleading tryouts on five hours of sleep, the morning after a busy Saturday that involved both high school practice and prom.

“It was a lot back to back,” Edwards said. “(Signing with Three Rivers) feels pretty good. It feels like I’ve accomplished a lot.”

Edwards still performed so well that she recently signed to cheer at the college in the fall.

“She did awesome,” Three Rivers coach Kayla Sparkman said. “She was there, ready to go, bright eyed and bushy tailed … Tryouts started at 9 a.m. and she was early.”

Added Edwards, who told Sparkman she stayed out until 11 p.m. on prom night, “Obviously there were things I thought I could improve on, but I was happy with myself.”

As a base for Neelyville, Edwards has established herself as a reliable teammate and student since she was a freshman.

“Three Rivers is getting one of the most dedicated and hard-working cheerleaders we’ve had,” Neelyville coach Brandi Lumby said. “Since her freshman year, throughout her senior year, she has always won our Best Base award. What that means is she is strong, determined, you can really rely on her as a base. If I were a flyer, I would want Haley to be my base because she is that dependable. You know she is going to catch you, even if it is on top of her head, which has happened before. But you don’t hit the ground, which is what you like in a base.”

Edwards will join a squad that will include cheerleaders from Poplar Bluff, Malden, Kennett, South Pemiscot and East Carter.

“This year is looking like one of the strongest squads I’ve had. Almost everybody tumbles, almost everybody is experienced with stunting and also sideline chanting,” Sparkman said.

Edwards will also have the opportunity to cheer on fellow Neelyville Tigers Autumn Dodd and J’Kayla Fowler, who will play on the Lady Raiders basketball team next season.

“I think it will be a lot of fun, especially since they are very good ball players and we’ve already made a lot of memories together with the final four and all of that,” Edward said.

She’s also looking forward to cheering in the new Libla Family Sports Complex and likens the bigger gym to what it was like cheering at the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown each of the past three years.

“I think it would be harder for me if I hadn’t already experienced bigger gyms, like the final four gyms. For me, it is easier to cheer in front of a larger crowd because it is fewer familiar faces that you see. It is just one big whole,” Edwards said.

Edwards plans to pursue a career as a veterinarian.

Scott Borkgren - Daily American Republic