Bowling Green State University cheerleading signee Sophia Nelson, a Bowling Green High School graduate. (NIcholas Huenefeld | Sentinel-Tribune)
By Nicholas Huenefeld
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
Bowling Green High School graduate Sophia Nelson is headed to cheer at BGSU this fall, joining what she calls her dream team.
“I’ve always wanted to cheer, especially at BGSU,” Nelson said. “It’s my dream team. The fact that I get to go to BG and be on the team at the same time is pretty crazy.”
Nelson said she wasn’t ready to move away from home and wanted to remain close to her family.
And that decision is a benefit to BGSU’s cheer program.
“She’s a natural leader,” BG cheerleading coach Madelyn Zuhlsdorf said. “She’s one of the most hardworking athletes I’ve ever coached.
She’s a peer motivator and pushes everyone around her to get better.
“She really wants everyone to succeed. Overall, she’s just a really bright light on the team.”
Zuhlsdorf believes that Nelson is going to be a real asset for BGSU.
“She’s going to come in very young, but she has a lot of heart for the sport,” Zuhlsdorf said. “She talks about cheerleading all the time. She thinks about cheerleading all the time.
“She’s always thinking of ways to get better and seeking ways to get better outside of just the practices. I think she’s going to bring that to BGSU and really take it to the next level.”
Nelson, who intends to major in nursing, will also bring versatility to the Falcons.
“She’s a very talented tumbler, and she is a very talented flyer,” Zuhlsdorf said. “Last year specifically, she really stepped up and took on roles that weren’t her primary roles. She’s one of those athletes you can put anywhere, and she’ll succeed and excel.”
Conversely, Nelson is also excited to see how BGSU can help her improve.
“I really like that it’s growth season over offseason,” she said. “We’re still going and doing everything. Our main goal is nationals this year and everyone is doing a really good job keeping on top of skills. I just like how driven everyone is.”
