Name: Sayde Thompson
DOP: 07-09-2009
Year of Graduation: 2027
Current School: Londonderry High School
School Sports: Cheerleading
Athlete Interview
Someone you look up to; athlete, coach, family etc. and why?
My coach, Chelsea because she has always supported me and she respects every single girl on my team.
If you could give one piece of advice to younger athletes, what would it be?
I would tell them to never give up.
Do you have any odd pre-game rituals?
I always eat peanut butter crackers before competitions because they fill me up.
Are you more confident at Home or Away games and why?
I am definitely more confident at home because i’m used to the Mats and I know what to expect.
What are your short-term and long-term aspirations?
I hope to get into URI and USC. I hope to do well in school my Senior year so that colleges will see i’ve still been working hard.
How do you handle pressure during a critical game or performance?
I think that pressure is good, it helps me a lot because when I’m under pressure I tend to perform better. When I am nervous and under pressure, I know that I will perform well.
What does teamwork mean to you, and share a meaningful leadership moment.
Team work means that everyone has the same amount of dedication and puts there full effort into the team. An experience I’ve had with leadership is that i’ve been captain for 2 seasons now, and it has taught me a lot about being a leader and help other people out.
What would you say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses as an athlete?
My weakness is that I get nervous a lot and sometimes struggle with confidence.
My greatest strength as an athlete is I have a lot of perseverance and I put a lot of my effort into my sport.
How do you manage you athletic responsibilities with academics & personal commitments?
Very well, as a captain I try my best to put my team first, but obviously I try my absolute hardest to do well in school.
How do you handle constructive criticism & feedback from coaching staff?
Very well, I love to hear back from my coaches on what I can improve on. I always preach to my team that our coaches want the best for us so whatever they say goes.
What has been a big success moment so far, and how do you remember it making you feel?
My team making it to New Englands as the first All girl Londonderry team to go to New Englands. It felt so good to accomplish it and i’ll never forget that moment.
An interesting fact about me is...
I have been cheering since I was 4 years old.
I was on an ECE team for 4 years and 2 of the years I went to Summit with ECE Blackout which was another big accomplishment.
I enjoy going to the gym and hanging out with friends. I also have a job as a host at the Windham Restaurant. I am an active member in many clubs at my school as well, including Pay it forward, student activities (Secretary), and future medical leaders.
