Russellville High School varsity cheerleader Ashlyn DeArman has made her future plans known by signing a scholarship to continue her education at the University of North Alabama.

DeArman, a senior multi-sport athlete, was surrounded by family, friends, teammates and coaches at a signing ceremony held at the RHS field house May 5. She’s been a varsity cheerleader at Russellville for three years.

“Cheerleading in college was always my dream, and I thought that going closer to home, to UNA – I was really excited to do that,” DeArman said. “The tryout process was amazing, and I loved it. As soon as I got there, everybody was so welcoming.

“Leaving here is really hard because I love cheering with every single one of those girls.”

DeArman also played volleyball and golf at RHS, along with being a cheerleader. “Those are really hard to juggle with all the practices, tournaments and games,” she said. DeArman gave credit to her volleyball coach Whitney Glover, cheerleading coach Stephanie Mayfield and parents Cam and Susan, who coach the golf team, for making things easy for her.

“Ashlyn is gymnastically gifted,” Mayfield explained. “She is a tremendous tumbler, and she is one of the strongest cheerleaders I’ve ever worked with. She’s been a foundation and a building block for all of our main stunts and just an all-around top cheerleader.

“It does not surprise me at all that she’s continuing that at the collegiate level.”

UNA cheer coach Megan Dye also attended the signing.

“She’s just a super-talented young lady and just a sweet lady, and we’re excited to have her as a part of our UNA family,” Dye said of the newest Lion cheerleader.

DeArman will be joining RHS graduate Kaydee Don Holland, who cheered for the Lions during the 2020-21 school year.

“One of my favorite things is when local girls stay local, so having both of them from Russellville, just right up the road from UNA, is really neat,” Dye added, “and for them to have all of their hometown and all of their family come and watch them cheer at ballgames is really special.”

DeArman’s father Cam shared that she has been working hard for many years to become a talented cheerleader. “She’s been taking gymnastics since she was very young,” he said. “When she was in dance class at 3-4 years old, her dance teacher came up and said, ‘Look, you need to get this one in gymnastics classes,’ and she’s been taking classes from Geronimo Gymnastics ever since.”