You can find this week’s Campus Celebrity cheering on our Illinois State Redbirds at most athletic events. She is our very own Illinois State cheerleader, Sara Wortman!
Name: Sarah Wortman
Year: Freshman
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Effingham, IL
Her Campus ISU: How did you become a cheerleader at Illinois State?
Sarah Wortman: The squad holds clinics for high school students so I went to both of the clinics, liked it, and decided to try out.
HC ISU: How is college cheerleading different from high school cheerleading?
SW: My high school team was an all-girl squad; so the biggest difference is having the guys lift me.
HC ISU: What is it like cheering in front of all the college kids?
SW: It’s a lot of fun! I love when the crowd gets involved.
HC ISU: What is your favorite thing about being an ISU Redbird Cheerleader?
SW: Getting to know everyone on the squad and being able to get the best seats at all games!
HC ISU: How do you balance school and cheerleading?
SW: It’s not that hard as long as you stay on top of your schoolwork and use good time management. When I have a lot of free time, I try to get ahead in my classes so that when I get busy with cheerleading and other activities I’m not overwhelmed.
HC ISU: What is your least favorite thing about being a college athlete?
SW: Early morning conditioning at 6:30 a.m.
HC ISU: Where is the coolest place you have been for cheerleading?
SW: Cheer camp at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin. There was a waterpark we got to go to during cheer camp!
HC ISU: How fun it is to be cheering for the 8-1 Illinois State Football team?
SW: I love cheering for such a successful team; it’s so exciting to see them surpass people’s expectations.
HC ISU: Most girls would probably say you are lucky because you get to be around the football players, what’s that like?
SW: I wouldn’t say I really know them better than the rest of you. Some of them follow me on Instagram but I’ve never talked to any of them.
HC ISU: What activities besides cheerleading are you involved in?
SW: My sorority, Delta Delta Delta, Student Nurses Association, and the Honors Program.
HC ISU: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
SW: Hopefully married with a job as a nurse practitioner.