When we look for athlete heroes, we tend to look towards players on fields and courts. But heroes are found in cheer communities as well. The heroes we meet today stepped up and helped a family’s special needs daughter adjust to a new school and a new environment by inviting her to join a cheerleading team.
 
 
That was the case for the Frierson family of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Daughter Anna, a special needs student, was starting a new school ­­­-- Red Bank Middle School -- where neither she nor her parents knew a soul. Yet Anna, without realizing it, opened doors and opportunities for herself though one simple gesture; taking pom-poms everywhere she went.
 
Anna’s father, James Frierson, said of Anna’s school, “We didn’t know anyone there, but we knew they had a great program for special education.”
 
The Frierson’s had no idea that their daughter even had the slightest interest in being a cheerleader, even though she carried pom-poms to school. But one day Anna’s teacher, Kristi Totherow, took an interest in the girl and her pom-poms.
 
“She said I got an idea, call you later tonight,” said Mr. Frierson. Anna’s teacher went to cheerleading coach Kim Elbakidze and within a few hours, Anna Frierson was cheerleader.
 
“She was a walk-on,” says her father. Anna’s parents didn’t know that their daughter even had an option of becoming a cheerleader.
 
Although in the beginning, Coach Elbakidze admitted that she was a little concerned about Anna. “My first concerned was I worried about how Anna would handle the crowd,” said Elbakidze, explaining that, “Some special needs kids such as Anna can be a bit leery of crowds and such.”
 
Some would think that a child with special needs may not be accepted by her peers as being a cheerleader, but that wasn’t the case here says Anna’s mother Patti. “There was never a question of acceptance or looking back,” she said.
 
Coach Elbakidze agrees. “I knew the girls wouldn’t have a problem with Anna on the team,” she said. “The girls watch her and mother hen her.”
 
Mrs. Frierson went on to say that her daughter has been involved in other activities such as dance and gymnastics and is glad her daughter has a chance to be around girls who are her age and be mentored by them.
 
“The girls have been amazing,” she said. “She has great role models and great peers.”
 
Cheerleading has helped not only with Anna’s exercise and taught her how to work hard toward goals, but it’s also helped bring her more out of her shell.
 
Her parents related a story about going to a football banquet where the cheerleaders would be acknowledged as well. Anna was a little bit shy in the beginning, but was okay when her name was called out to stand up and be acknowledged by the crowd.
 
Since joining the cheerleading squad, her shyness is starting to disappear and her parents credited cheerleading for that development.
 
“Anna has really matured,” says her mom.
 
Both of her parents are proud that their daughter is just being a typical teenager and allowing herself to get some well-deserved recognition not only by her peers, but her community as well. And that might just be the most important thing for Anna and the Frierson family -- acceptance.
 
To view a story, photos and video of Anna published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press, go to
 
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/sep/28/special-spirit-red-bank-middle-cheeleader/
 
Special thanks to Jim Frierson, the Red Bank Middle School and The Chattanooga Times Free Press for sharing this wonderful story with Cheer Channel!