It’s Karmen Gordin’s first year being a Tiger cheerleader and she already has a national championship title under her belt. The winning team returned home from Orlando this week with the Small Coed National Championship in Division 1A title.
Gordin knows it won’t be the last. After all, the sophomore business major who transferred from Morehead State University to the University of Memphis knew she was joining a powerhouse team. Since entering the small coed division, the Tigers have won six national titles in the last nine years.
“The feeling of hearing the University of Memphis as first in our divisions was just unbelievable. I knew deep down we had the chance of winning but still hearing our name was a shock,” Gordin said.
But for Gordin the night before the Tigers won the national title will always hold a special place in her heart.
“The most unforgettable moment as a Tiger for me would be the one night in Orlando right before we went out and won nationals,” Gordin said. “Our team did a bible study, and it touched so many people’s hearts. We knew then as a team that we didn’t need a title or a piece of gold to know we won. We won by just learning more about each other and the reason we keep doing what we love — that was our win.”
She said she’s been a cheerleader for as long as she could remember — since at least three years old. “Cheer has always been a drive of dedication for me. Its been a sport that I wouldn’t know what to do without since I was born into it. Most of my family were cheerleaders and its given me the opportunity to strive to be the best just like them,” she said.
Both Gordin’s aunt and uncle cheered for the Memphis Tigers.
When asked what defines a cheerleader, Gordin said, “The definition of a cheerleader for me would be someone who pushes themselves to their limits when no one is watching. A cheerleader has an image of being at games and looking pretty when at different times they are pushing themselves the same way a football player is. Cheerleaders go through all the tears, blood and sweat as any other athlete would, but they show themselves with a great image.”
The Tigers make all the choreography, the flips, stunts, jumps, and pyramids look easy.
To stay motivated, Gordin said it’s all through her mental ability. “I have done this sport years on top of years, so I have highly trained my mentality with it. I’ll let myself know that I am blessed because I am living someone else’s dream. Me and my teammates remind each other of that daily so that we are able to keep moving forward. Someone else could be dying to be in our position, and we get to live it!”
Gordin said her favorite song to get pumped up to is “I Can Do All Things,” by Strive to Be and Jarica Jamison. “This song is a bit slow and may seem sad to most but it’s a huge reminder to me that I can do anything.”
“What’s next for me is another great season with this school, hopefully adding another win and a win for our gameday routine,” Gordin said.
