Senior cheerleaders Natalie Brady and Taylor Crowley exemplify everything that is meant when you hear the phrase, “student-athlete.” Beyond their persistence in the classroom and on the cheer team, they are both members of the National Honor Society where Taylor serves as the president. Additionally, they have been student demonstrators/trainers for the local AYF/AYC cheer teams paying it forward to our next generation of cheerleaders.
“Both Natalie and Taylor serve important athletic roles on our team,” LHS cheer coach Tracey Hartman said. “As a back spot, Natalie's primary role is to protect the flyer by taking command of the stunt group. At times this requires putting your own body between the flyer and the floor. You can imagine this can come with battered and bruised body parts. Knowledge of the mechanics of the sequence as well as the timing is crucial to the success.”
“Taylor functions as a utility athlete on the team and her role has changed from season to season and even from practice to practice,” Hartman continued. “As a freshman she served as a supporting flyer in our pyramid, and has continued on as a base in both pyramids and baskets, a front that is the glue that makes our stunts successful, and has stepped into basing elite skills at games and in practices making her prepared for any need that arises at any given moment. Additionally, Taylor has continued to gain new tumbling each year contributing to the difficulty score our team strives for.”
“The most significant contribution of cheer skills that both Natalie and Taylor offer our team is their attention to detail and how that relates to their showmanship and performance abilities,” Hartman added. “This is true both on the sidelines and on the competition floor.”
Taylor was born in Leominster and lived in Leominster until she was five, before moving to Lunenburg and then Townsend where she lives now. She started cheerleading when she was six years old cheering for AYF. Natalie has lived in Leominster her whole life and after trying soccer and dance, cheer was the sport she ended up liking the most.
“The feeling that you get before going on the mat to compete and the feeling of finishing a routine is something I can’t even begin to describe,” Natalie said. “Similarly at football games, standing under the lights on Friday nights have been some of my best memories in high school.”
“LHS is a school surrounded by school spirit and it really shows when you are on the field cheering to the excited crowd,” Taylor added.
Taylor plans on attending a four-year college close to home and then going to Law school to earn a degree in Law. In addition to her work with the National Honor Society, she helps out with the 2024 Student Government and is part of Best Buddies.
“My favorite class in my high school career would have to be Life Skills mentor, but my favorite teacher has to be Mrs. D’Aniello,” Taylor said.
Natalie plans on attending college and majoring in Biology on a pre-medical track with the ultimate goal of becoming a physician. During her time here at LHS, she has also participated in Best Buddies and varsity tennis.
“My favorite class at LHS has to be A.P. Biology my sophomore year with Mrs. Billingham,” Natalie said. “However, my favorite teacher here at school is Mr. Robichaud who I had the privilege to be in his class for two years and I was a TA for as well. He also is my tennis coach, which I decided to try for the first time last spring and love it.”
Outside of school, Natalie remains quite busy.
“I volunteer to coach the Leominster Youth Cheer 14u team with Taylor, and when I’m not doing that or working, I am either hanging out with friends or supporting them at their own sports games,” Natalie said.
Taylor enjoys hanging out with friends and coaching youth cheer. She also works at Kimball Farm scooping ice cream.
