When she was in seventh grade, Hunter Craven found her passion. 

Growing up as a dancer, Craven decided to try out for the Black Hawk Middle School sideline cheer team. 

“Even after that first game, I automatically fell in love with the sport. I’ve always loved cheerleading. I feel like it fits me best and it’s what I’m good at,” Craven said. “I couldn’t imagine my life without cheerleading.” 

That passion has carried Craven through the last eight years of her life. Whether it was trying out for the school’s STUNT team or becoming the eighth best all-star team nationally, cheerleading has remained central to her life. 

On May 6, the recent Warrenton High School graduate took the next step in her cheer journey by signing a letter of intent to continue sideline and competition cheerleading at William Penn University. 

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity because I didn't want to graduate high school and just be done with the sport,” Craven said. 

Though she has explored various sports, cheerleading was the one that always stuck.  

“I love the Friday night football games and cheering for my school, but I also love the competition side of things – the lights, the stage and the judges,” she said. “You can’t explain the feeling of walking out onto the comp floor.” 

Like cheer, William Penn became an instant love for Craven, making the decision easy on where she would compete in college. 

“I felt like I fit in there and I was only there for a day. When I was visiting teams and colleges, I looked at how the athletes worked together, how the coaches worked with them and I loved what I saw,” Craven said. “I left there with a smile on my face. I knew right then and there that was going to be my choice.” 

While Craven initially was not sure if college was in her plans, cheerleading, among other reasons, played a major role in her decision to pursue higher education.

“Cheer is everything to me. I don’t think I would be the person I am today without it,” Craven said. “It teaches you so many life skills, like patience, teamwork, determination – just making sure you give your all in everything that you do. It has helped me apply those things to life outside of the gym and outside of the sport.”