Bridgeport High School senior cheerleader Alyson Gibson has signed a national letter of intent to join Fairmont State University’s Acrobatic & Tumbling team.

 

Accompanied by her family, Cheer Coach Natalie Hathaway and fellow BHS cheerleaders, Gibson signed at the BHS library Monday afternoon, saying she looks forward to competing with the nationally recognized competitive team, coached by Bridgeport’s Kristy Kiefer.

 

“It’s a great opportunity and I’m really excited for this experience,” said Gibson about the team which captured the MEC championship in April 2019. “I’m a really competitive person and love to tumble. It’s my favorite thing about cheerleading.”

 

Gibson began tumbling when she was 7 or 8 years old and continued through the next decade, cheering at Bridgeport Middle School and Bridgeport High School under the direction of Hathaway.

 

“I’m lucky to have had such a great coach all the way through,” Gibson said.

 

The Indian cheer team captured the Region II title in 2018 and advanced to the Class AA state tournament. This school year, the team again won the Region II title and the team will compete at the Class AA cheer title on Dec. 14 at Marshall University. Both last year and this year, the team won the Big 10 cheer championships and this year also captured the top spot at the George Washington High School Cheer Invitational.

 

Gibson said the rewards are worth the hard work. Hathaway said Gibson is a hard worker and believes he will be an important component to the FSU Acrobatic & Tumbling team.

“We’re super proud of Alyson for committing to such an outstanding collegiate program in Fairmont State’s Acrobatics and Tumbling team,” Hathaway said. “She’s an extremely dedicated athlete and I know her dedication and work ethic will carry through in her upcoming years as a Falcon.”

 

Hathaway said she and her assistant coach Janet Hathaway have loved watching Gibson grow over the years and cannot wait to continue to watch her and support her future competitive endeavors.

 

In addition to her excitement about becoming part of the competitive team, Gibson said she liked Fairmont State’s campus and likes the fact that it’s close to home. She plans to study pre-physical therapy.

 

Gibson said her best high school cheer memory to date is competing for the state title in 2018. She looks forward to another opportunity to earn a state championship before moving on to her collegiate tumbling experience.

 

She will begin her career as a FSU Falcon in the fall of 2020.Sophia DelGreco, 2019 BHS graduate, is also a member of the FSU Acrobatic & Tumbling team. 

 

Editor's Note: Alyson Gibson is pictured with her parents Nikki and Jason Gibson and twin brother Aidan Gibson, as well as Coach Natalie Hathaway and friends/BHS cheerleaders Lauran Johnston, Addie Boggs and Miranda Kress. Also pictured is the 2019-20 BHS cheer team after capturing the Region II title. Action shot of Gibson is by Ben Queen Photography.