If you asked Katelyn Parker about her cheer journey, she probably would not give a perfectly polished answer. She would laugh, think for a second and say something like, “Honestly, it was super up and down.”

That is exactly what makes her story feel real.

Parker’s path to cheering in college, and eventually committing to the University of Memphis, was not straight or picture-perfect. It was filled with mixed emotions, second thoughts, changing plans and learning to trust her instincts along the way.

For a long time, cheering in college was not even part of her plan.

“I’ve not always wanted to cheer in college,” Parker said. “Until about senior year, I was on edge with it. I was like, ‘It’s an option, I guess,’ but I was also kind of ready for the journey to end.”

After years in the sport, that feeling is not uncommon. Long practices, mental pressure, injuries and the overall demands of cheer can add up. At some point, many athletes start to wonder whether they are ready to move on.

Parker found herself in that position. Then, something changed.

At first, she was set on attending Arkansas State. Then a friend convinced her to go to a Memphis clinic, something she almost did not do.

“I was really not about the Memphis life, I won’t lie,” Parker said. “But I went anyway, and I fell in love with it.”

That is when things became more complicated.

She found herself torn between two schools, unsure whether she wanted to leave behind the plan she had already built.

“I didn’t know if I wanted to drop everything. I found a perfect roommate, and I had fallen in love with the team at A-State and the coaching,” Parker said.

After attending more clinics for both schools, Memphis offered her a spot on the team, and the decision became very real.

“It took me a solid week of going back and forth,” Parker said. “I even made a pros and cons list.”

Eventually, the answer became clear.

“Eventually I realized the pros just pointed toward Memphis,” Parker said. “They outweighed the cons.”

Even then, the decision was not easy. After already making plans with Arkansas State, changing directions felt heavy. But once she committed, the excitement quickly followed.

“It was really exciting to get a commitment post on Instagram,” Parker said. “And of course signing is cool, too.”

The transition from high school cheer to college cheer will not be easy. The pace is faster, the competition is tougher and the expectations are higher. Still, Parker said she feels prepared for the next step.

“College clinics have definitely prepared me,” Parker said. “Especially knowing a lot of people on the Memphis cheer team. I kind of know what I’m walking into because I got to experience it firsthand and secondhand from people telling me about it.”

Not every part of the journey came easily. When asked about the most difficult part, Parker answered without hesitation.

“Learning how to twist in a flip, bro. That was the hardest part of my life,” she said with a laugh.

But difficult skills were not the only challenge.

“I always wanted to be a leader,” Parker said. “But leading and not being mean is really difficult. I tried really hard to be a friend, but there were times I also had to be stern with my teammates.”

That kind of growth may not show up on a scoresheet, but it is a major part of becoming an athlete and a leader.

Behind Parker’s development was a coach who helped shape her path.

“My coach was definitely a really big mentor during my cheer journey,” Parker said. “He always let me know that cheering in college was an option. He would even talk to coaches on my behalf.”

That encouragement helped her believe in herself.

Like any team, Parker’s program also faced adversity.

“Junior year we lost over half our team,” Parker said. “We lost 14 seniors who were all extremely talented. So losing them was really difficult going into the next season.”

That kind of loss can change the direction of a program. It also creates opportunities for others to step up, and Parker said that is exactly what her team had to do.

If Parker could go back and give advice to her younger self, she said she knows exactly what she would say.

“I would tell myself to keep getting in the gym and working hard,” Parker said. “Because it’s all going to pay off in the end.”

It is simple advice, but it carries a lot of meaning.

Now, as she prepares for the next chapter, Parker can see how everything led her to this point.

Her story is not just about choosing a college. It is about learning how to make a hard decision, trusting yourself when things are uncertain and realizing it is OK to change your mind. Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you never planned for.

Her journey was not perfect, and it was not easy. But it was hers.

Now, as she gets ready to take the mat at Memphis, Parker will bring more than just her skills. She will bring everything she learned along the way, the setbacks, the growth and the lessons that shaped her.

And if you asked her about it now, she would probably keep it simple:

“Hashtag go Tigers.”