Strength matters in cheer, but Alex “Jagger” Gibbs has learned that some of the smallest details can make the biggest difference.

The Broken Bow High School junior is a back spot/base for the cheer squad, where he has found an outlet for his interest in fitness while learning the patience and teamwork required to make a stunt come together.

“Patience is key and little things make big impacts,” Gibbs said.

That lesson is especially important in stunting, which Gibbs calls his favorite part of cheer. Each athlete has a responsibility, and when something is not working, figuring out the problem can require repetition and attention to details others might overlook. As a back spot/base, Gibbs knows his teammates are depending on him to do his job each time they attempt a skill.

Gibbs has seen that same determination firsthand from teammate Jah’niyah Ashton.

“The biggest impact has to be Jah’niyah because she will do anything it takes to figure out why a skill is not hitting,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs also looked up to former teammate Brooke Evans because of the attitude she brought to the team each day.

“I looked up to Brooke Evans because she would always show up to practice in a good mood,” Gibbs said.

Those examples have shown Gibbs different ways a teammate can contribute. Sometimes it is through the determination to solve a problem, and other times it is simply bringing the right attitude into practice.

Cheer requires plenty of work before Gibbs and his teammates ever perform in front of a crowd. During preseason, he said the team practices for two hours every Sunday and Wednesday, putting in the time needed to improve skills and prepare for the season. Those hours also give Gibbs opportunities to become more comfortable in his role and develop trust with the teammates around him.

His work does not stop when practice ends. One of Gibbs’ favorite things to do outside of school is “hitting the gym,” something that complements the strength needed for his position in cheer.

That interest has also shaped one of the ways he hopes to make an impact on others. Gibbs wants to “influence young people to get in the gym” and encourage them to see the value in working toward their own goals.

His biggest influence comes from his family. Gibbs looks up to his older brother, Jaxon Baker, and hopes to follow the example he has set.

“My older brother Jaxon Baker and he inspires me because everyone knew and respected him and he is really strong and I hope to be as known and respected as he is,” Gibbs said.

As Gibbs moves through his junior year, he wants to continue becoming stronger while being someone his teammates can count on. The patience he has developed through cheer, the work he puts in at the gym and the examples set by those around him all connect to the same goal.

Gibbs wants to keep improving, make an impact and become someone younger students can look up to.