Broken Arrow High School senior Keymontay “KJ” Aldrete has found a home in varsity cheerleading, bringing a competitive mindset and an attention to detail needed to be a team leader.
Aldrete has cheered for about a year and a half, but he has already embraced a major leadership role as the Tigers’ team captain. Balancing the needs of a large team presents challenges, especially when every athlete responds differently to coaching and direction.
“It’s very hard because we have so many different personalities on the team and not everyone responds to things the same. I’ve just found leading a ton of different personalities hard but I’m finding my way and it’s all working out,” Aldrete said.
For Aldrete, the team’s shared commitment to improvement is what makes Broken Arrow special. He sees that hunger in teammates who continue working even after success.
“What I love most about my teammates at Broken Arrow is their drive to be better. Even when we know we’re good we still push to set the bar higher and become the best,” Aldrete said.
Aldrete credits a friend, Zane, with helping him take his first steps in cheer. The two became friends around a year and a half ago, and Zane helped Aldrete feel accepted while learning the sport. Zane now cheers at the University of Oklahoma, where Aldrete plans to continue his own career.
“A big inspiration for me is my friend Zane. We started being friends around a year and a half ago. When I first joined cheer, he was the first person to bring me in and teach me. He’s now on OU,” Aldrete said.
Aldrete is scheduled to sign with OU on Nov. 11. Before then, he hopes to keep expanding his skills. He considers stunting a strength and recently became the first high school athlete to compete a Bufu. He is also working toward landing a standing full in tumbling.
Aldrete will carry lessons from every challenge he’s faced on or off the mat into his cheer career. He is also involved with the Student Athletic Leadership Council and Broken Arrow’s leadership program.
“I learned no matter what difficulties you are going through to push through no matter what. Great athletes are made through how they respond to adversity,” Aldrete said.
