Cheer requires a high level of mental strength and confidence to be successful. Mental blocks are a frequent, and in a sport where precision is everything, even a moment of doubt can feel magnified. For Hamilton Southeastern sophomore MaryBeth Baker, overcoming the internal battles of cheer has always circled back to strong mentorship.
Baker began cheer at 2 years old, starting off in tumbling classes. She made the switch to Indiana Elite, where she spent 8 years competing under late head coach Bethe Beaver. Beaver built Indiana Elite from the ground up, creating more than just a successful team. She produced a culture that transformed Baker’s perspective of cheerleading.
At the center of Baker’s understanding, she says that Beaver is her “why.”
“Bethe Beaver was always close with my family in and out of the cheer world,” Baker said. “I learned the lesson of authenticity and expression through sports from her. When she passed away, I knew how to carry those ideas throughout all aspects of life.”
In a sport defined by comparison and high standards, Beaver emphasized the importance of loving what you do. Her legacy remains in all the girls she coached, including Baker. When the comparison and mental blocks become overwhelming, she remembers the same lessons Beaver instilled in her all those years ago.
“She was my most influential coach and I carry what her love in and out of cheer meant to me,” said Baker.
After her time at Indiana Elite, Baker ultimately made the decision to switch to school cheer in junior high; a transition that redefined her focus and challenged her as an athlete.
Baker transferred to HSE her sophomore year, planning to try out for football, basketball, and competition teams. The transition was hard. Entering a new program can feel uncertain and intimidating, especially in a sport where connection is everything. Baker’s role as a flyer also added another level of anxiety. Being able to trust your bases is pivotal to a clean stunt, yet Baker was just meeting her teammates for the very first time. That level of dependency and trust is developed over time, not immediate.
“A lot of your placement is based upon stunting and with that you must keep your skills perfect,” said Baker. “I have bad anxiety and as a flyer if one thing doesn’t go right, I get all in my head. I always try my hardest to stay out of my head and believe that my bases have me.”
That’s where Coach Amy Blair came in.
Baker says that her foundation from Indiana Elite helped ease the transition, but it was her immediate connection with Blair that helped to solidify her choice in transferring. She provided reassurance during those early adjustments, reinforcing the same values that Baker had been raised by. Blair helped her navigate the pressure she placed on herself, particularly in her struggle with mental blocks.
“Coach Blair encourages me and others to just be ourselves and showcase our hard work regardless of the days we’ve had or the feelings we’ve felt,” said Baker.
Baker doesn’t only face the normalized mental struggles of cheer though. As a flyer managing chronic shoulder dislocations, she struggles with physical pain that intensifies the fear of falling. But by leaning on her support system, she’s been able to push past those moments and turn her fear into confidence.
“As an athlete I learn how to balance my shoulder injury, although it stops me from so much, I work through it all.”
The HSE Basketball Cheer program’s focus on culture, confidence, and leadership reflects what Baker was taught at Indiana Elite. Through basketball cheer, Baker has learned the importance of being surrounded by teammates and coaching staff who uplift her. What once felt uncertain at the beginning of the season has changed to what Baker describes as authentic relationships that will last a lifetime.
“Being an HSE cheerleader means connecting with community and keeping yourself at a higher standard.”
For Baker, cheer is more than the sidelines and the stunts. She is a byproduct of strong mentors like Bethe Beaver and Amy Blair, who encouraged and believed. The influence of Beaver shaped her love for the sport, and the leadership of Blair continues to guide her through challenges.
“I owe it all to them,” said Baker. “My coaches have made me the cheerleader I am today.”
