For Aubrey Hale, athletics have always been about growth and finding where she belongs. From spending countless hours in the gymnastics gym as a child to competing at the Cheerleading World Championships and preparing for collegiate acrobatics and tumbling, every step has helped shape the athlete she is today.

Hale's athletic career began almost before she can remember. She first stepped into a gymnastics gym through "Mommy and Me" classes with her mother, beginning a sport that would become part of her daily life for more than a decade. "I've been doing gymnastics ever since I was a baby," Hale said. As she grew older, gymnastics became increasingly competitive. From elementary through middle school, Hale trained approximately four hours a day, five days a week, throughout the entire year. She eventually reached Level 9, a milestone that reflected years of dedication. 

While she loved gymnastics, the demanding schedule became difficult to balance as she entered high school. "Going into high school, I didn't know if I had time for it anymore," Hale said. "It was becoming a lot with school and everything else." Wanting to try something new, Hale stepped away from gymnastics and joined Jackson High School's soccer and track teams. Although she enjoyed both sports, she soon realized she missed tumbling and the atmosphere she had grown up with. "I really missed gymnastics," she said. "I loved to tumble. I loved doing flips."

That realization led her to cheerleading. After competing with her high school team, Hale joined Connect Cheer Northwest's Twilight Level 6 World Team in Bellevue, where she spent the past two seasons competing at one of the highest levels of all-star cheer. The transition from gymnastics to cheer required more than learning new routines. For the first time, Hale was no longer competing solely for herself. Instead, she had to trust teammates and work together through synchronized routines. "In gymnastics you're competing for yourself," Hale said. "With cheer, you're competing with your teammates."

Although she joined the team midway through her junior year, Hale said her teammates immediately welcomed her and made her feel at home. "They made me feel like I fit right in," she said. The team qualified for the Cheerleading World Championships both years Hale competed, traveling to Orlando, Florida. During her first season, Twilight finished third in the finals, earning what cheerleaders call a "globe."

Beyond competition, Hale also returned to gymnastics as a coach. Missing the community where she had spent much of her childhood, she began coaching during her sophomore year of high school. Over the past three years she has worked with recreational athletes, summer camps, birthday parties, and competitive Xcel teams. "I love it," Hale said.

While balancing cheer with track, Hale also became a leader on Jackson High School's track team. Her dedication earned her the team's Most Valuable Player award during both her junior and senior seasons. "I felt like I made a really big impact," she said. She also received her all-star cheer team's Most Improved award during her senior season, recognizing the progress she made after returning to tumbling and competitive cheer.

As graduation approached, Hale began planning for the next chapter of her athletic career. A former gymnastics coach introduced her to collegiate acrobatics and tumbling, a sport that combines elements of gymnastics and cheer. After attending a clinic at the University of Oregon, she knew it was the right fit. "I was like, 'Wow, I really like this,'" Hale said. Although she considered several universities, University of Oregon stood out because of its community, academics, and location. She committed before her senior year and will continue competing while pursuing her degree.

For Hale, competing in college represents the goal she has worked toward for years. "All my life, I wanted all my hard work to contribute to a bigger goal," she said. "I'm really happy that I'm committed." Throughout her journey, Hale credits her mother as her biggest supporter, driving her to practices, encouraging her, and making countless sacrifices throughout her athletic career. She also credits her coaches and teammates for helping her grow through every stage of her journey.

As she prepares to begin classes and training this fall, Hale is looking forward to meeting new people, competing in a new sport, and continuing her education. Looking back, she hopes younger athletes remember that success isn't something they have to achieve alone. "My advice would be to rely on your teammates," Hale said. "You're allowed to ask for help. You're allowed to get better."

From a young gymnast to a world-level cheerleader and future collegiate athlete, Hale's journey shows how embracing change and trusting those around you can lead to new opportunities.