Sports Locker • January/February 2025 • Avery Schoeneberg

When people say someone is “born to fly,” they normally mean it figuratively. But when it’s said about Avery Schoeneberg, it takes many meanings. Whether flying high above the field in a cheer routine, flying through her leg of the 4x400, flying over the hurdles at a track meet, or flying above average academically with a 4.0+ GPA and 28 college credits, this Blair Oaks High School senior was truly born to fly.

At just six years old, Schoeneberg started competitive dance. In fact, she still does it today with CoMotion Dance team and credits it with building her stamina and turning her into an athlete. Several years later in seventh grade, she was inspired by her cross-country-athlete older sister to start running. That same year, she recognized cheer as another way to use her years of dance.

“I enjoy the adrenaline rush that being thrown in the air brings me. I also enjoy leading the crowd in a positive manner. My favorite part about track is being part of a team and always being challenged to get a little bit faster. I enjoy the post 4x400 runner’s high – it is an indescribable feeling.”

Being part of these teams has brought friends and memories for which she is forever grateful. Not only have the people on the teams made an impact but also those leading them.

“So many people have helped develop me into the athlete and person I am today. My parents and sister inspire me to be better, even when I don’t feel like the best athlete I can be. My parents – Carey and Corey – are my rocks. They attend every single event and bring me up when I’m down. I get my work ethic from them. My older sister, Kati, is my best friend and rival all in one and has been such a support to me. I’ve always wanted to be just like her. And both sets of grandparents are amazing. They make sure to cheer me on every chance they get.”

She credits the Holtmeyer family with helping her through injuries, keeping her well-nourished and coaching her through workouts. One piece of advice she still carries comes from Coach H, who said her motto as an athlete was, “I’ll do my best and let God do the rest.” Her dance coach has also been by her side since she was three years old and helps her through more than just dance, as well as her cheer and tumbling coaches. “I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today without all these people.”

Her junior year was her most successful to date. “In cheer, we placed third at state, and I was awarded NCA All-American Cheerleader and All-State Flyer. For track, I ran four events for most of the season and really improved my 4x400 split. We qualified for state, where I ran a 61-second split, which is my personal best. We also qualified for state in the 4x200, which had not happened in over 10 years for a Blair Oaks girls 4x200 team. Ending that drought was something I will never forget.”

Her athletic career hasn’t been without challenges. “Scoliosis has been a big challenge in my sports journey. It causes my ribs to come out of place quite often. It has put me out of cheer and affected my running technique… For about a year, I had a mental block preventing me from doing back tucks. That’s a hard mental block to overcome, but with hours and hours of work and repetition, I have finally gotten past that.” Her parents added, “We have enjoyed watching her successes, but we are most proud of the hard work and dedication she demonstrates in everything she does.”

Avery plans on attending the University of Missouri to major in biochemistry on the pre-med track. With the skills she’s gained through sports and learning to overcome major obstacles, she’s ready to prove once again that she was born to fly.