Senior Profile: Astrid Cifuentes

Driving around the unfamiliar town of Pittsburg, Kansas, senior Astrid Cifuentes fought the tears forming in her eyes and the tight knot in her stomach. She went back and forth between planning her potential future as a Pittsburg State University cheerleader and convincing herself in moments of self-doubt she’d be okay if she didn’t make it.

In the three hours between the decisive tryout and the mandatory meeting at Pittsburg State University, all she could do was worry. Was her mistake during the fight song noticeable? Was her standing tuck enough to compete with life-long gymnasts? Did she look as confident in her partner stunts as she felt?

She refreshed the Instagram page where the results were being posted at 3:30 p.m. on April 8. After 30 minutes of relentlessly scrolling, a screen reading, “Pitt Cheer 2018-2019” was finally in front of her.

She made it.

She saw her mom join her in tears, and realized that her one-on-one practices with coaches and her attendance at every Pitt State open gym had been enough to accomplish her dream of becoming a college cheerleader. Out of the 40+ incoming freshmen that tried out, Cifuentes was one of five now sporting the red and yellow uniform.

The biggest challenge going into the tryout was the requirement of a standing back tuck. She had never tumbled in her life, but wasn’t willing to let that jeopardize her dream, and turned to her coaches for help.

Former varsity and competition cheer coach Mallory Gaunce remembers pushing Cifuentes to try the skill with the National Cheer Association, or NCA, staff at camp. Within a day, she could almost do it on her own.

“She can pick up those advanced skills so quickly, and that’s what always has impressed me about her,” Gaunce said. “She’s a little ball of muscle, and I’m pretty sure she could squat me.”

Though she had pressure from her K-State alumni coaches to cheer there, she fell in love with the friendly and inclusive atmosphere of the Pitt State team at their open gyms — making the decision for her.

“I knew I wanted to be a Pitt cheerleader because it was a family,” Cifuentes said. “Going in being a first generation college student, and going to a town that I didn’t know anyone at, I really wanted that.”