Leonard Signs With MSSU Lions
Go, Hannah, go! Go, Hannah, go! After cheering on the McDonald County Mustangs the past four years, Hannah Leonard will now cheer for the Lions at Missouri Southern State University. Leonard recently signed with the Lions following a tryout at the Joplin school.
“It was a big day when I signed,” Leonard said. “It was something I knew I wanted to do, but I didn’t know I would have a chance.”
Leonard said she wanted to go to Southern because of its education program and it being close to home. She said being able to be a part of the cheerleader squad is a dream come true.
“I knew I wanted to get into an education program, and they have a really great program,” Leonard said. “I went for a tryout and it was very nerve-wracking. I yelled for the Mustangs once instead of the Lions, but I felt I did pretty well.”
Leonard has been cheering for eight years, starting with cheering at youth football games. She was voted “Most Spirited” this past year at MCHS. In addition to cheerleading, Leonard was a member of the National Honor Society.
Coach for the Lion cheerleaders is Aubrey Endicott, who was deeply impressed with Leonard’s ability.
“I am really excited to have Hannah on the squad,” Endicott said. “She is going to be a really strong base for us. She is going to be really good, and I hope she stays with me for four years. She has a lot of potential due to her coach here at MCHS. They have a really good program here, and we are excited to have her.”
Leonard said she will perform at all the home football and basketball games. She said the 20-member squad (19 girls and one boy) will have a camp July 9-12.
“We will do a lot of stunting and team bonding then,” Leonard said. “I met the girls on the day of tryouts, and I feel like I have been friends with them for years.”
Leonard is the daughter of Monica Willyard.