How far can you go as a Cheerleader? As we delve into the life of Donna Williams

By: Valerie Ninemire

Like most young women, Donna Williams and her identical twin sister, Deana, dreamed of being Cheerleaders. Their passion for the sport began many years ago, when they both became Cheerleaders in middle school.

Once she was bitten by the “Cheerleading bug”, Donna went on to cheer and dance in high school. That is also where she started to dream of taking it further. And further she went – all the way to the top.

At 15, Donna was helping to coach and choreograph her first squad. That same summer, her and her sister started their own Cheerleading camps, where they were both instructors. By the ripe old age of 18, Donna was a member of the University of Kentucky Wildcat Danzers and had placed 3rd in the nation.

Donna has danced for a professional hockey team. She has also been an instructor and choreographer for several cheer/dance associations including, EDA, Dansports, Cheers Inc., and the Tennessee Cheerleading Company.

But Donna didn’t stop there, last season she was one of thirty-six women named to the NFL Tennessee Titans Cheerleading Squad. Donna explains, “It has so far been the highlight of my Cheerleading/dance career! Performing in front of 67,000 Titans fans, is a feeling I won’t soon forget! Presently, I am a Cheerleading coach in Murfreesboro, TN. I look forward to taking my career in Cheerleading and dance as high as it can go!” And no doubt she will.

Some of Donna’s cheer/dance accomplishments include:

• UCA All Star Cheerleader
• NCA All American Cheerleader
• NCA Danz All Star Danzer
• UDA All American Dancer
• Top Gun Funk Award
• PHS National Dance Champs (ASC) 1997
• UK Wildcat Danzers 3rd place NCA Danz Nationals 1998
• Choreographer for AGS (Allen, KY) 7 time back to back county champs and 4th place at NCA Nationals 2001.