Edwards juggles busy schedule with spirit

by Jason Hartline, staff writer

 

College can create a very stressful environment. Maintaining good grades, which should be the initial goal of a college student, is enough to keep anyone occupied.

With notes, exams, professors, term-papers, and projects, among other things, breathing down your neck, how can the average college student find time to do anything else? It all takes determination.

Gail Devers once said, “Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe."

No one believes in themselves more than South Plains College student Trisha Edwards. You may have seen her cheering on the Texans and Lady Texans along the sidelines at the Texan Dome. That is not the only thing she does though. Along with being an active cheerleader, the sophomore education major from Muleshoe is a student, a basketball official, and recently added being a wife to her list of responsibilities.

As a Texan Cheerleader, Edwards is expected to fulfill many duties. The SPC cheerleaders attend cheer practice at 4 p.m. until 5:30, Monday through Thursday. They work very hard getting ready for not only games, but for participation in college events and community service as well. Edwards said one of the reasons practice is very important is because it keeps the cheerleaders in shape. Image is very important, so the girls are also supposed to meet weight expectations and fit a certain mold. Staying in shape helps them to reach these expectations.

The cheerleaders attend two games a week. Often, these games are out of town, so the cheerleaders have to travel a lot.

Cheering at games is only a part of what Edwards participates in while being a cheerleader. The cheerleaders are quick to accept any opportunity, involving the college or community, that crosses their path.

“We never turn anything down,” Edwards says. “We love to help out anyway we can!”

There are definitely high expectations for the cheerleaders.

“Once you become a cheerleader, you put your life on hold,” Edwards adds. “On the college level, cheering is a job. Wednesday night is the only night I have to be a wife.”

As a cheerleader, Edwards is expected to maintain a grade-point average of 2.5 or higher. This means she must be a dedicated, full-time student.

Edwards is an education major who strives to teach anywhere between the fourth and eighth grade. During her freshman year, Edwards successfully completed the majority of her education curriculum. Currently, Edwards is enrolled in 16 hours. She has geared this semester more toward classes for relaxation, rather than those that provoke stress.

“Yoga and weight training are so much different than my core curriculum,” Edwards says. “I get a chance to breath.”

A love for the sport of basketball has driven Edwards to become a referee. She officiates all over the area, including places such as Lubbock, Levelland, Whiteface, Whitharral, Sudan and Littlefield. The reason for taking on such a wide area is that so she can try to get her name out into the field.

By showing her face and meeting people all around, Edwards heightens her chances of gaining experience and being called back to officiate more games.  She says that she absolutely loves everything about the game of basketball.

“If I wasn’t so little, I would be playing ball for a college right now,” Edwards says.

Currently, Edwards officiates for Little Dribblers up through junior varsity. She is working toward gaining enough experience to officiate high school varsity games. Her ultimate goal is to officiate on the college level.

This is no easy task. An aspiring official is required to attend camps around Texas. The camp judges observe the young officials and critique them after. Edwards has attended two camps in Lubbock and will be attending one in Dallas this summer.

In order to officiate on the college level, Tony Stigliano, coordinator of officials for JUCO, critiques the official personally. If the official is qualified, he will hire him or her and he or she can start officiating games for colleges.  

Officiating is no easy task either.

“When you officiate a game,” Edwards says, “you have to keep the play before in mind. This will ensure a more accurate call.”

Edwards actually watches the referees during the games she cheers at more than the actual game. This helps her broaden her knowledge and learn about different calls.

She is very dedicated toward advancing as an official. Edwards takes officiating very seriously and strives to be the best she can be. She holds this same attitude toward everything she does.

To the average college student, this is an overwhelming amount of responsibility. Imagine having all this on your plate and being married at the same time.

Edwards and her husband were married last December. They had been dating for about five years and loved every second of it.

“It is so hard to find time to spend quality time with each other,” Edwards says. “We always seem to though. It makes our time that much more enjoyable.”

Marriage is a huge responsibility in itself. To get a glimpse into Edwards’ life, imagine paying bills, taking care of the car, house, food, and a spouse while also being a cheerleader and a student.

Despite all that is on her mind, she continues to excel in her college career and at home as a new wife. When you think you have too much on your plate, take a walk in Edwards’ shoes. She sets a good example to follow.  

*All photos by Melissa Rinehart/Plainsman Press