Coupeville Sports

Nicole Becker and a few of her many fans.

Nicole Becker is a big fan of giving back.

She is drawn to the Bible verse at 1 Corinthians 13:13 — “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love,” and it shows in her day-to-day life.

The Coupeville High School senior is always one of the first Wolf cheerleaders to interact with young girls, as shown in the picture above, helping to lay the foundation for future cheer squads. She also devotes a great deal of energy to working with Special Olympics athletes, an activity which brings a great deal of joy to her heart.

“I have been involved my whole life and those people are my whole world,” Becker said. “I spend a lot of my time with them, which I wouldn’t change for the world!”

The infectious good nature which makes her such a valuable addition to the Wolf cheer squad is readily evident on any Friday night, as she stands atop one of the team’s podiums, leading her teammates and firing up the audience.

A four-year vet of the world of pom poms and stunts — she was a member of Coupeville’s most recent competition cheer squad, which placed at state in 2011 — Becker is a cheerleader through-and-through. Even if she has had to adjust to a few of the requirements of the job.

“I became a cheerleader because I have always been a total freak. Seeing how happy the cheerleaders were at football games and how much fun they looked like they were having, I knew I wanted to be one,” Becker said. “Granted, I didn’t like the whole idea of being cold or wearing a skirt, but it has definitely made me a stronger person.”

What draws her to cheer is what draws her to supporting Special Olympics — a sense of family and a chance to become friends on a deeper level than just nodding to someone as you pass them in the school hallways.

“My favorite part about being a cheerleader is being a part of a family with no DRAMA and how we all love and support each other when some girls are down,” Becker said. “I remember when I went through a bad time in life that I always had my girls around to help me through it all.”

And for those morons out there who want to insist that cheer is just an activity and not a sport? You know, the people who have never pulled off a stunt in their life, never kept the smile on their face and the fire in their voice during three hours of cold, driving rain?

Becker is actually very tactful when discussing the subject, but she doesn’t need your stupidity raining on her parade.

“My opinion is that cheerleaders are playing a game of football just like the football players are,” Becker said. “We throw up stunts and have to hold each other up. Well, don’t football players hold each other up?

“I would tell anyone who doesn’t believe that cheerleading is a sport, who brings home trophies? The cheerleaders do!”

As the fall season winds down, Becker still has a winter cheer season and a spring track season, her fourth, (“I just can’t wait to have a season of fun and something to remember!”) ahead. She’s juggling college and high school classes and plans to get her AA at Skagit Valley before moving on to a four-year school.

Through it all, she has the support of many people. Her family, her friends, her fellow cheerleaders and the Special Olympics athletes she works with. And bringing it all together, the people who have helped her find a deeper meaning in her life.

“If anyone was to have an impact on me, it would have to be my loving church family,” Becker said. “The people there are all so loving and I don’t think I’d be the woman I am today without Sylvia Arnold and Ray Shelly.

“They have taught me so much about my faith and my very best friend, Jai’Lysa Hoskins, was the one who got me to come to Christ,” she added. “Without those three people in my life I don’t think I would still be who I am today.”