Some athletes talk about goals in terms of points scored or games won, but for Sallisaw junior cheerleader Trinity Mings, her goals come down to execution, leadership, and growth. “My personal goals this season are to consistently hit every skill in our competition routine with confidence,” she said. “I am also working hard to level up my running tumbling from a back-handspring tuck to a back-handspring layout, and my standing tumbling to a standing tuck. Beyond the physical skills, I want to grow as a leader on the team and contribute a positive attitude all season long.”
That drive has been mirrored across the Black Diamond cheer program this year. “The team morale this year has been incredibly positive, motivated, and optimistic,” Mings said. “We are a very bonded team that carries a type of energy you can only truly understand by being a part of it. I am so proud to be on a team filled with strong attitudes, shared values, and committed, hard-working mindsets. The connection and drive of the team have made this season very special.”
The payoff has been clear in the way they’ve attacked practices and performances. “The biggest improvement I’ve seen from the team so far is everyone giving their 100 percent,” she said. “We have learned as a team to put in that extra effort in every single skill and push past mental battles and exhaustion.”
That commitment all points toward one goal. “One of the team’s goals this year is to hear our name called at state,” she said. “We are working hard to achieve this by practicing with intensity, training with purpose, and lifting each other up through it all.”
For Mings, cheer is about more than stunts and tumbling—it’s about identity and legacy. “I believe I play multiple roles on the team by setting an example of what a Black Diamond cheerleader should look like,” she said. “I want to leave a legacy at Sallisaw High School of not only being an amazing athlete and student, but also an exceptional person in general.” With a bright future ahead, Trinity Mings is ready to see what it holds: “My plans after high school are to stay close to home and become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CNRA).
