Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Kaleah Willis is heading to college to continue her cheerleading career. The Callaway senior made it official on Monday as she signed to Andrew College.

“At first, I was pretty indecisive about whether I wanted to cheer in college or not, but once my senior year started to come to an end, it started to hit me hard,” Willis said. “Competition cheer is my pride and joy, so I talked with my coaches about cheering in college, and they helped me reach out and find Andrew College.”

Willis has been cheering for only a handful of years, having joined the team during her freshman year. Cheerleading quickly became a passion for Willis, who was having a difficult time saying goodbye to the sport once she hit the competition mats for the final time as a Cavalier.

“If you would have told me a year ago that I would be signing to cheer in college, I wouldn’t believe you,” she said. “It didn’t really hit me until my last time performing with the competitive cheer team (at Callaway).”

Willis is a true do-it-all cheerleader. She has been a member of the basketball, competition and football cheerleading teams during her time at Callaway.

Her heart belonged on the mats for competition cheer, and she was looking beyond just cheering on the sidelines in college. Willis found that home in Andrew College.

“This was kind of a late decision,” Willis said. “I really didn’t think about cheering in college until after leaving the competition mats for the last time. I didn’t want to give it up yet, so I worked with my coaches to find somewhere to cheer.”

It was a packed house in the Callaway gymnasium on Monday for Willis and her fellow Cavalier signees. The crowd got loud for every athlete that signed, but the Callaway cheer team was especially loud when it was Willis’ turn to sign.

“Those are my sisters,” Willis said. “We’ve made so many great memories these last few years. I don’t think I’d be signing today without them.”

Willis has also been pushed and influenced by coaches Serenity Graham and Ansley Callan. 

“They really helped find me a home to cheer at in college,” Willis said. “They’ve been such a big part of my cheerleading journey.”

The leadership and poise Willis provided the Callaway cheerleading team will be sorely missed going forward. 

“Kaleah has led with passion, cheered with heart and represented our school with pride, not just with her stunts and tumbling, but with her leadership, character and resilience,” Callan said.