Epic Athlete | Sutton Hodges

Hi, my name is Sutton Hodges and I am a seventeen-year-old high school senior from Garner, North Carolina. When I began cheering 12 years ago at Cheer Extreme Raleigh on the Glitter Stars, a mini level 2 squad, I never could have imagined how much influence cheer would have on me. Cheer isn’t just a sport; it’s a way of life. At a very young age, I spent countless hours in the gym playing while my older sister was practicing. I went on to cheer on many different teams and levels, from mini 2 to junior 3 to senior 5.  Even after experiencing a year-long tumble block at the age of 8, I have a special love for tumbling. During my block, I had to learn how to push myself beyond my comfort zone and how to focus on achieving goals one step at a time. Although overcoming the block was difficult, the process helped me to become the cheerleader I am today.

After spending five seasons on SSX, a small senior level 5 all-girl squad, I decided to change it up for my senior season and switch to SMOEX, a medium coed level 5 team. I also cheer on Senior 4 Elite, a senior small level 4 team. It’s really hard to pick one thing that I cherish the most but winning Cheerleading Worlds in 2016 and 2018 are definitely on the top of my list.  Some of my other memorable accomplishments include winning MAJORS three times and winning the coveted NCA jacket twice.  Being on 2 all star cheer teams keeps me busy, but I still manage to stay involved in my high school serving as a Yearbook Editor, Varsity Cheer Captain, and a Senior Class Officer.

Being chosen as an EPIC Athlete was a dream come true. This opportunity enabled me to visit the Under Armour headquarters and train at their workout facility alongside other leading cheerleaders in the country. In my opinion, EPIC Athletes embody the best of the best in the cheerleading industry demonstrating extreme talent but also leadership and mentoring skills. I try to embody the essence of an EPIC athlete by being a positive role model in my gym and by helping other athletes learn self-confidence and self-motivation.

Cheerleading has taught me so many things including how to work hard, how to win and to lose, how to be a good teammate, and how to be a leader and a follower.  It has taught me to be passionate about something I love and to be strong and determined all at the same time.  This sport has enabled me to develop life long friendships, travel to some awesome places, and experience several “once in a lifetime” opportunities.  Hopefully, after graduating high school, I’ll continue enjoying this sport at a collegiate level.  I’m so fortunate to be an All Star cheerleader and can’t wait to finish out my senior year strong.