'I was motivated to work hard': Lakeland freshman helps cheer team win 6th straight title
Lakeland freshman Peyton Altman was already a member of the Lakeland cheer squad, doing modified stunts, when she earned the opportunity to execute the skills needed to potentially win state.
When teammate Madi Linch suffered a knee injury in November, the Dreadnaughts had no other available flyers. So coach Crystal Abdon put Altman, who had never cheered a day in her life, into Linch’s spot.
The transition was seamless, and Lakeland ended up winning its sixth FHSAA state title in a row on Feb. 2 at the RP Funding Center.
“I was very excited, and happy. I was very motivated to work hard to be able to catch up to the other groups,” Altman said. “I had a mindset to be able to get to where I needed to be."
Altman’s mother, Kelly, said she was impressed by her daughter.
“I’m extremely proud of her. She and the whole team have really worked really hard this season,” Kelly Altman said. “Peyton, having never cheered before, it’s been fun to watch become part of the team and just be able to take on whatever they’ve kind of thrown at her. And just the help of the other girls, their support in helping her out, and teaching her, and mentoring her and all the things she’s learned how to do this year, it’s been amazing to be a part of the team."
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Still, the team immediately needed a flyer when Linch went down. The following week, Abdon put Altman in the back group to see if she could execute the skills. The Lakeland native was able to knock the proverbial audition out of the ballpark, and from that point, Altman was in the lineup.
“I was a little nervous, but I was excited for the opportunity. Madi is an amazing flyer, so I felt really bad that she got injured, but I was really excited for the opportunity,” Altman said.
While it may have been difficult for a person to take the position with no cheer experience, Altman’s dance background accelerated her learning. Altman danced for 10 years before cheering.
“It definitely helped with my technique and my ability to learn the skills in time and the routine and It was very easy for me to do the dance, the cheer, the technique and the stunts,” Altman said.
With Altman able to perform rather smoothly, the Dreadnaughts were able to arduously practice stunts. On the short journey to state, Morgan Allen, among others — her base members — were instrumental in assisting Altman amid the training sessions.
Still, even smooth operators may have some difficulty in learning a new routine. Altman said it was a little challenging in executing her full up switch up or her roundoff up. But her bases and the rest of the team were steadfast in their assistance, which helped Altman even more.
“Everybody was so supportive and whenever I needed improvements or critiques, they would be very helpful and give them to me, and I was able to work harder," Altman said.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland's Peyton Altman helps Dreadnaughts win state cheer title
