Mei Gorecki attends Gilbert Christian High School and is a member of the AIA's student SID program.

From COVID-19 interrupting her sophomore season to a torn UCL her junior year, Kathryn Murphy—a senior attending Gilbert Christian High School—has persevered. 

What differentiates Kathryn from other athletes is her tenacity. Her four years on spirit line has had its ups and downs. She says, “My four years on the team have been a little rough; freshman year coach switches, COVID-19 affecting my sophomore year, and tearing my UCL junior year,” and yet, despite all the hardships, Kathryn has seen herself improve in her tumbling, jumps, and stunting capabilities.

Throughout her four years on the spirit line team, faith has been a key aspect that positively impacts Katheryn’s performance. 

“Everything we do is for the Lord. We work really hard to do the best we can to glorify God as well as illuminating Him through us in everything we do.”

Kathryn is also extremely proud of her team. The challenging season has not only brought personal growth, but also team growth. She says, “If spiritline has taught me one thing, it's the importance of working as a team with the people around you. As such a tight-knit group of girls, we have a very strong support system which we can rely on for whatever we need.”

For those considering joining the spirit line, Kathryn says, “Go for it! Spiritline might not be for everyone, but the bonds you make with the people on the team are fantastic, everyone gets each other and we have a blast.”

Through hardships, Kathryn never gave up. Her perseverance and tenacity allowed her to put into perspective the short-term difficulties and look towards a higher goal.