Meet Hailey D’Lynn

What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is Hailey D’Lynn Smith. I am from San Angelo, Texas, but I call Los Lunas, New Mexico and San Saba, Texas home.

Why do you love what you do?

I love cheerleading because of its ability to free my mind from the outside world. When I am in the gym or at practice, my entire focus goes into what I am doing at that moment. Whether it is partner stunting, pyramids, baskets, or tumbling, I put my all into what I am doing. When I get awards like “2021 Texas Cheerleader of the Year” or “6x All American Cheerleader,” this gives me validation to show all the hours I put into doing what I love are not going unnoticed. I also love helping others succeed. One of my favorite things to do is coach stunting privates. Seeing a smile on the kids' faces when they get the skill they’ve been working so hard for is the most rewarding feeling ever.

What makes you different?

I have been called a “cheer anomaly.” It’s extremely rare to have athletes at this level who never cheered in their life on a high caliber all star team. I was the first signee and recruit of the year for both Trinity Valley and Weber State University. I was a gymnast for 16 years before I was recruited by Monica Aldama at Navarro and Vontae Johnson at Trinity Valley. They feature both teams on Netflix’s “Cheer.” My first year cheering was a little over a year ago at Trinity Valley where I had never done elite level cheer in my life. Since then I’ve done every partner stunting skill possible, flown in every basket toss skill, and I have become the first in the world to do 2 skills, and had them named after me: a back handspring triple up and the shooting star, which is a full twisting cartwheel and full twisting halo. I have also become the first ever true freshman to place top 10 at UCA Partner stunt representing Trinity Valley.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I hope to be a part of Team USA Cheer representing the United States at Worlds. I also hope to have my biomedical engineering degree after graduating and cheering at Weber State University. I want to have a partner stunt champion title, collegiate National first place win, all star worlds gold medal, and a Team USA gold medal.

What do you want to accomplish in life?

I want to go to the Olympics and represent the United States Cheer team at the first Olympics where cheer is an official sport. I also want to continue touring the world doing cheer clinics and build a bigger brand for myself where I can help athletes all over master their skills. I want to start a business with my biomedical engineering degree, where I can create artificial body parts or braces for sports-related injuries.

What do you bring to your industry?

I believe I bring a fresh cheer mindset because I am not someone who has cheered their entire life like everyone else in the industry. I also bring leadership where I motivate everyone around me and provide a positive atmosphere to be around. I am an athlete of good character who genuinely wants everyone to succeed around them and accomplish everything in their potential.

What do you want to be remembered by?

I want to be remembered as a kind athlete that people will reference when talking about the hardest worker in the room. I want to be thought of when you think of a dedicated, determined, and disciplined athlete who is kind to others and wants them to succeed just as much as I want myself to accomplish all of my goals that I have set.