Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Anaiyah Brown

In Emily Clement’s first season as head coach of the cheerleading team, she does not have the luxury of senior leadership. In fact, there are no seniors on the squad this year. Their absence means more opportunities for others to step into that leadership void, an opportunity sophomore Anaiyah Brown has seized this year. Anaiyah combines her upbeat personality with a strong competitive nature and physical skills, which is why she is this week’s Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Anaiyah played as many sports as she could as a child but never really found her niche. She had cheered from ages 6 to 8 but decided to pick up the sport again in middle school when a few friends went out for the team. Soon, she found a talent and passion for the sport.

Lakeisa Brown, Anaiyah’s mom, understands both how important cheer is to Anaiyah and what it has done for her, saying, “Cheer is truly Anaiyah’s passion.” She goes on to say, “Anaiyah dedicates over ten hours a week to practice and tumbling to continue to enhance her cheerleading skills. This, along with her rigorous course load that includes AP and Honors courses, has helped Anaiyah learn how to manage her time to allow for both while maintaining a 4.0 G.P.A.”

The long season means the development of close relationships for Anaiyah and her teammates, something she cherishes. “I like having a family atmosphere and structure because cheer requires a lot of discipline,” says Anaiyah. She says, “I have a schedule of things to accomplish like having the mats set up by 2:45 each day for practice and being a strong leader.”

Leadership is important for any coach but particularly important for one in their first year as a head coach. But Emily Clements, it is not just Anaiyah’s leadership, but the way she goes about connecting with her teammates. “Anaiyah is a natural leader and her upbeat and positive personality compels people to follow her,” says Emily. She goes on to say, “Anaiyah’s presence commands the attention of others to be like her. She consistently treats others with compassion and understanding, which sets her apart from her peers in a great way.”

Being a positive leader is something Anaiyah prioritizes, and a responsibility she leans on during challenging times. “The people around me are what drives me to work to improve because I do not want to let anyone down,” says Anaiyah. That steadiness is something Emily loves about her sophomore, saying, “Anaiyah is someone I know I can count on and as a new head coach is something I greatly appreciate.” She goes on to say, “Anaiyah is consistent at practice, in both her abilities and attitude. It is clear she puts the team first in all that she does, and I cannot express my appreciation for Anaiyah enough as well as my admiration and respect for her as an athlete.”

As a team, Oswego East has only qualified for state in 2018, something Anaiyah and her teammates is hoping to change this season. But Anaiyah’s success does not stop on the cheerleading mat. In addition to her 4.0 G.P.A., Anaiyah is always finding ways to improve herself. “She is independent and inquisitive for sure. She is an avid reader and always looking to learn new things,” says Lakeisa.

Amy Whitlock, Anaiyah’s French teacher, has as much affinity for Anaiyah as a student as Emily does for her as a cheerleader. “Anaiyah is an excellent student with a wonderful sense of humor who gets real joy from learning new things,” says Amy. She goes on to say, “Anaiyah is the kind of student that all teachers want in their classes. Her easygoing personality and relative cheerfulness always make me smile. I can count on her to participate in class and to lead her group with grade and diplomacy.”

As only a sophomore, Anaiyah is consistently thinking about her future, and as of this moment, she is considering physical therapy. “Anaiyah’s future is a frequent conversation in our household with her plans changing pretty often,” says Lakeisa. She adds, “However, with her drive and determination, I am confident that Anaiyah will succeed at whatever she chooses.”

It was not long ago that Anaiyah was first walking into the doors of East, which makes her advice to future Wolves more poignant, as being in their shoes is fresh in her mind. “I would tell an incoming freshman to understand you will not have the same friends that you started with, which is ok, and you should venture out and do things you enjoy and will meet new people,” says Anaiyah. Those new friends are learning to become a family, a family that is hoping to grow together to accomplish their goal of eventually becoming a state championship.