Senior year is a momentous time where students are applying to college, participating in their final high school events, and getting ready to transition into college life after graduation. This often translates to a hectic schedule, especially with the addition of sports and various other extra curricular activities.

Senior Austin Greene is the prime example of a student with a lot on their plate: This year, Greene is tackling two sports that coincide with one another, football and cheer, in addition to his job and his various obligations as a senior.

When asked about how he got interested in doing cheer, Greene explained that his girlfriend encouraged him to join due to the lack of boys on the team, and that he has noticed a significant change in his tumbling abilities so far.

Greene also had a mostly positive response when he told his coach and teammates on the football team that he had decided to join cheer.

“All my football friends thought it was a joke at first. They were surprised and confused at the same time,” Greene said, “My closest friends on the football team thought it was awesome and were actually supportive.”

There are several indisputable differences between football and cheer, the more prominent of which being the fact that cheer is comprised mostly of girls, as opposed to Greene’s teammates on the football team. However, Greene expressed his compatibility with his teammates in both sports, and how he feels comfortable with all of them no matter their differences.

Football practice occurs everyday after school, and cheer takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Because it is currently football season and cheer competition is not until spring, football takes priority when it comes to practice.

“Coach Lori is very understanding when I show up later and am in jeans when it comes to practice,” Greene said.

Furthermore, Greene does not tumble during football season, rather he tends to work with his stunt group when he attends practice.

Taking on so many extracurriculars can be a lot of work, and at times quite stressful. Because of the strenuous practice schedule involved in juggling two sports, Greene has limited time when it comes to homework and other activities. What’s more, Greene works on Sundays, allowing for Saturday to be his only full free day.

Although several people might be concerned whether taking on so much may be worth it, Greene has expressed how enjoyable it is to be around both his football and cheer teammates as much as possible, and how comfortable he feels engaging with them.

Greene aspires for the remainder of his high school sports career to include competing hard in football and making it far into the playoffs, and to beat Moscow and Lakeland in order to send his team to state.