Profile: Mollly Hendryx
by Eirini Schoinas
It’s the “sweat and tears that go into learning and the progress from the start of a season to the performance that is incredibly satisfying,” says Molly Hendryx, Lincoln’s powerhouse cheer coach.
Now in her fourth year at Lincoln, Hendryx has been working hard on bringing the cheer team to the next level, promoting positivity in the athletic community and confronting stereotypes.
“The school, fans, and community didn't always value our effort the way they do now, “ says Hendryx, “But I’m starting to see them look to the cheer team as positive role models.”
Hendryx has been coaching cheer, on and off, for 17 years. She has taught four-year-olds through high school students. Before coaching and teaching, she was a cheerleader herself.
“Cheer had given so much to me personally that I felt passionate about giving back to the sport ... this gave me a safe place to push my limits physically, to be the best version of myself and feel like a part of a family,” says Hendryx.
Recently she has also taken up competitive powerlifting in order to continue to push herself physically and mentally.
Hendryx loves coaching and seeing the cheerleaders get new skills and nail performances. Witnessing the pride on her team’s faces is one of the most rewarding things about being a cheer coach, she explains. Helping them overcome obstacles also brings her great pride.
“Competition is my passion. But it’s the journey there that fuels my fire daily …and the relationships that are built,” says Hendryx. “If another coach or school is in need we rally around to lift them up and offer support however we can.”
Hendryx emphasizes that cheer is part of a greater community. She points to a time that the Lincoln team lent Wilson High School team poms because their poms never arrived, and she is sure if needed others would do the same for Lincoln.
Hendryx and the Lincoln team put in hours of practice before and after school. Cheer can be an almost 9-month long season, including competitions. It requires consistent work and dedication, but not all realize this.
“Many people say that cheerleaders are not athletes. I plan to prove we are by showing them differently by integrating stunts and tumbling into each performance. Moreover, Cheerleading puts a face to positively support the school and athletics and provides energy, setting the example for how we want Lincoln represented in and out of school and sport,” says Hendryx.
“The school, fans, and community didn't always value our effort the way they do now, “ says Hendryx, “But I’m starting to see them look to the cheer team as positive role models.”
Hendryx has been coaching cheer, on and off, for 17 years. She has taught four-year-olds through high school students. Before coaching and teaching, she was a cheerleader herself.
“Cheer had given so much to me personally that I felt passionate about giving back to the sport ... this gave me a safe place to push my limits physically, to be the best version of myself and feel like a part of a family,” says Hendryx.
Recently she has also taken up competitive powerlifting in order to continue to push herself physically and mentally.
Hendryx loves coaching and seeing the cheerleaders get new skills and nail performances. Witnessing the pride on her team’s faces is one of the most rewarding things about being a cheer coach, she explains. Helping them overcome obstacles also brings her great pride.“Competition is my passion. But it’s the journey there that fuels my fire daily …and the relationships that are built,” says Hendryx. “If another coach or school is in need we rally around to lift them up and offer support however we can.”
Hendryx emphasizes that cheer is part of a greater community. She points to a time that the Lincoln team lent Wilson High School team poms because their poms never arrived, and she is sure if needed others would do the same for Lincoln.
Hendryx and the Lincoln team put in hours of practice before and after school. Cheer can be an almost 9-month long season, including competitions. It requires consistent work and dedication, but not all realize this.
“Many people say that cheerleaders are not athletes. I plan to prove we are by showing them differently by integrating stunts and tumbling into each performance. Moreover, Cheerleading puts a face to positively support the school and athletics and provides energy, setting the example for how we want Lincoln represented in and out of school and sport,” says Hendryx.
Well structured, and clearly presents the intentions of Hendryx as a coach.
ReplyDeleteReally well-written and easy to follow. It gives a clear and positive perspective on cheer in a very informative way.
ReplyDeleteI really like the starting quote and all the quotes that you used! It was really nice to see that you had put two photos in as well.
ReplyDeleteI love how you chose someone you know and can relate to personally through cheer.
ReplyDelete