Post Photo by Diandra Womble Jaxon Curry signs his letter of intent to continue his cheer career at the University of Chattanooga at Tennessee.
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
From the gridiron sidelines to the basketball baselines, perhaps nobody has embodied Shelbyville Central spirit more so than Jaxon Curry.
Curry was the living embodiment of school spirit during his years at Shelbyville Central and because of that spirit, he will continue his cheer career at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
When it came to start deciding on colleges, Curry got a bit of a late start in the process due to an injury.
“My recruitment process started late—at the end of my junior year—after a tough forearm injury kept me out of cheer the entire season. Early on, I had my sights set on the University of Memphis and the University of Texas at Austin,” he said.
In November 2023, I went to the Texas vs. Oklahoma rivalry football game and immediately felt at home. I visited the Texas campus the following March, and seeing their athletic facilities and team culture made it feel like the perfect fit,” he said.
Later on, he attended a recruitment clinic in Memphis, showcasing some of the best cheer programs in the country.
“The athletes were incredibly welcoming, and the coaches were hands-on and encouraging. Since my brother went there, I already knew the campus—but after visiting again with my mom, we both felt like maybe Memphis wasn’t the right place for me,” he said.
Although a return trip to Texas for another clinic yielded another great amount of exposure for Curry, he didn’t make the final team, despite making it to the final round of tryouts.
“It was hard, but Texas doesn’t compete at UCA College Nationals and my goal is to win a national title and be the first SCHS Cheerleader to be a Collegiate National Champion,” he said.
Although UT-C wasn’t initially on the radar for Curry, a visit to the clinic in Chattanooga and visiting with the coach put everything into perspective for him.
And the rest is history.
Coach Ashli Brown took the time to speak with me one-on-one, and when I doubted myself during tumbling, she came over and encouraged me directly. That moment stuck with me—I knew I wanted to be one of her athletes,” he said.
Coupled with learning about the UT-C exercise science program, Curry knew he was at home.
“At tryouts in April, I struggled mentally the first day, but Coach Ashli texted me, “You did good today,” and I literally teared up in the middle of Target—it meant so much. I made the team after all three rounds, and I’m incredibly proud to be a Division I collegiate cheerleader at a place that truly feels like home,” he said.
Curry’s commitment to UT-C is the end of a life-long goal that began from the early days of his cheering career, stretching back to the young age of seven.
“I started cheering at the age of seven. My mom first put me in tumbling classes. I then made the Harris Middle School cheer team in seventh and eighth grade. From there, I cheered at Shelbyville Central High School during my freshman and sophomore years.
In March of my sophomore year I transferred to Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, but after my injury, I decided it was time to come back home to Shelbyville where I cheered for my senior year. I also competed in all-star cheerleading under Coach Tiffany Jackson, where my team went undefeated for two seasons and won a national championship,” he said.
Throughout everything Curry has been part of during his cheer career, being part of the Golden’ Eagle football team’s run to the third-round of the playoffs during his senior season was among his favorite.
“My favorite memory cheering in high school was cheering on the football team all the way to the third round of playoffs my senior year, even though I like to cheer during basketball season more. That football season will always be special to me,” he said.
Throughout his path that led him eventually to UT-C, Curry had several key supporters that aided him in his journey to cheering in college.
“I want to first thank my mom for everything she has done for me. Cheer is a very expensive sport and raising two boys by herself while keeping us in the sports we love I will forever cherish. I want to thank Mrs. Cheryl Moore she seen something in me as a freshman that I didn’t see in myself. Not only has she pushed me to be a better student athlete but as a person as well. Teaching me life skills I will never forget,” he said.
“Lastly, I want to thank all my teammates for being the best people ever and always encouraging me to be better.”
Curry will report to UT-C in the coming weeks and begin his freshman year cheering with the Mocs.
Having reached the college level, Curry said he hopes his path shows there’s a way to cheering at the next level for anyone with the drive and determination to get there and he has a few words of support for those who hope to one day cheer at the college level.
“To anyone who wants to make the cheer team you got it, work hard, do not give up on yourself. Even if you do or do not make the cheer team keep pushing to be a better athlete and try again next year. I like to think of my favorite quote “the sky’s the limit.”
Curry plans to pursue a degree in exercise science and later become a sports medicine doctor or an orthopedic doctor.
