By Derrick Smith

Gabrielle Mares is a junior at Putnam City West High School, where she is a member of the cheer squad. As a cheerleader for the Patriots, Mares knows the value of a school that has great school spirit. 

“I feel like school spirit is important because it gets everyone involved,” she said. “It really helps you have an overall better high school experience.”

During her career as a cheerleader, Gabrielle says that she has been there for some really great wins and some tough losses for her school. But there is one memory that will last with her for a long time to come. 

“My highlight moments in cheer took place during basketball season,” she recalled. “We were playing in the playoffs against Yukon during my high school year. We ended up winning the game and I remember all of us celebrating together because we had just realized we were going to the state tournament for the tenth year in a row.”

Devon Wohlschlegel, who is the cheer coach for Putnam City West says that Mares is an all-around great cheerleader and leads by example.
“Gabbie does a lot for our team,” the Wohlschlegel said. “She always goes above and beyond to help the team in any way she can. She is not demonstrative, but instead, she is more of a quiet leader that has earned the respect of her teammates.”

While she enjoys being a student at PC West, Mares says that for her, it is more than just a school. 

“I like how we are all a big family,” she said. “We always treat each other with respect and look out for each other.”

Many of the traits that Mares carries today come from a person in her life that she is very close to. 

“The biggest role model in my life is my mom is my mom,” she said. “She is such an amazing woman. She is always taking care of other people and puts her family first. Even before herself. She always stays positive and is such a hard worker. I love her so much and she deserves the world.”