Looking back on her early years, Ella Blythe, a senior at Lake Oconee Academy, recalls the excitement of watching the University of Georgia (UGA) cheerleaders at football and basketball games and even gymnastics meets. Blythe has long harbored the ambition to become part of their esteemed group. To be chosen from a pool of over 100 accomplished cheerleaders who auditioned this year for the UGA cheer team is the realization of her lifelong dream, a testament to her unwavering dedication as an athlete.
Blythe’s immersion in UGA football began at the tender age of just three months. Born into a diehard Bulldog family, one could say it was in her blood. “There is a framed picture in the Blythe household that reads, ‘Georgia born, Georgia bread, and when I die, I’ll be Georgia dead.’ This statement sums it best for our family.” says Blythe’s mother, Jennifer Blythe, who is also a teacher at Lake Oconee Academy. Blythe’s parents met as students at the University of Georgia. “A bigger plan put two people in Athens at the time that both loved UGA. We have spent our lives showing our daughters why we loved our school by attending games and events as a family since the girls were born. Some of our fondest memories as a family include traveling across the country to the Rose Bowl in 2018 to watch UGA, visiting various SEC schools to watch our Bulldogs, and meeting great people through our UGA adventures. To see Ella not only get into the University of Georgia but also be chosen out of over 100 candidates for a select spot on the cheer team is unreal. As a parent, I am so excited to watch her have the time of her life and cheer on the best school in the land,” beamed Jennifer.
According to her mother, Blythe’s journey in competitive gymnastics started at age 3, when her natural talent quickly emerged. At age 9, she transitioned to Allstar Cheerleading on a level 2 team and instantly fell in love with the sport. By age 12, her family relocated her and her sister to The Stingrays Allstars in Marietta, Georgia, one of the world's premier Allstar gyms.
At age 13, Blythe juggled commitments, competing on Stingray's level 3 and 4 teams while also representing LOA's middle school team. Her dedication led her to join the renowned level 4 Stingray's Platinum team by 9th grade, where she and her team were Grand Champions at The Summit, the highest competition level. Progressing further, she joined Stingray's Cobalt World's Level 6 team while continuing with LOA's competition team.
As a sophomore, Blythe balanced cheering for LOA's competition and football sideline teams while earning a spot on the prestigious all-girl Stingrays Orange team. Her accomplishments on Orange include winning the Worlds Championship. For the past three seasons, Blythe has remained with Stingrays Orange, currently competing for one last shot at the coveted Worlds Championship.
“For over 8 years, cheer has been her love. She has sacrificed her time, body, energy, and dedication to the sport,” says Jennifer. As for Ella, she says, “It is truly a surreal moment to see 17 years of wishing and dreaming come true. I am still pinching myself that I will be on the sidelines cheering for the best college in the country.”
Lake Oconee Academy celebrated with Blythe in this exciting new chapter by hosting a signing ceremony on April 19th.