Union City senior earns cheerleading scholarship to Middle Tennessee State

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

UNION CITY, Tenn., (KBSI) — Union City High School senior Ca’Lae Ervin has committed to compete in cheerleading at Middle Tennessee State University, earning a scholarship after a successful tryout.

Ervin said her interest in cheerleading began later than many athletes, starting at age 8 after years of practicing flips at home.

She received an invitation to join the university’s program after attending a clinic and tryout in March, where she was offered a spot by the team’s spirit coordinator. The program combines traditional cheerleading, tumbling and STUNT and competes at the Division I level.

School officials said the team finished 12th nationally last year.

In addition to cheerleading, Ervin has been a multi-sport athlete at Union City, competing in volleyball and track. She was part of state tournament volleyball teams in her junior and senior years and has qualified for state competition in track events, including the pentathlon.

Ervin said her participation in multiple sports helped prepare her for the demands of collegiate athletics.

She plans to pursue a career as a neonatal nurse.