Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Emma Guarni

Oswego IL

10 December, 2021

9:54 AM

Description

Senior Emma Guarni understands her legacy, and the continued success of the cheer program hinges not only on her success but the leadership she provides to her young teammates. Having had an opportunity to learn from some of the program's strongest leaders when she was a freshman, Emma embraces the challenge of leadership and thrives in this role both on and off the mat, which is why she is this week's Oswego East student-athlete of the week. Competitive cheering has always been a part of Emma's life. "I started cheerleading in 2nd grade with a lot of my neighborhood friends," says Emma. "Emma has been cheering for ten years, first on the Fox Valley Flyaways and Murphy Junior High team before making the OE varsity team her Freshman year," says Nick and Beth Guarni, Emma's parents. They go on to add, "Cheerleading is a huge part of Emma's life. It is a 2nd home/family for her. After all these years, Emma continues to love and be very passionate about the sport." Competing on the varsity team as a freshman is no small feat, but head coach Tiffany Scholle knew Emma was someone who could compete as a freshman and eventually grow into a leader. "As a freshman, Emma was a diligent worker on the team and a "sponge," says Tiffany. She goes on to say, "Her next two years Emma developed her voice and took opportunities to contribute to those larger team discussions and develop into a supportive leader." Emma was fortunate to form a bond with her upper-class teammates, a bond so close she remains friends with them to this day. "That group of upperclassman were some of the first to truly embrace the leadership as an act of service mentality and took the opportunity to truly mentor new members of the team," says Tiffany. The pandemic proved to be a challenge to the number of athletes participating across all sports, and cheerleading is no exception. "Our competitive team is very new; all but three members have never competed in person before, and many are brand new to cheer in general," says Tiffany. Fortunately, Emma has embraced the leadership role and uses her experience as a freshman to help the current underclassman. "The seniors gave constructive criticism that was helpful when I was a freshman, and I try to exemplify that for the younger girls on the team and lead by example," says Emma. She adds, "As a freshman, the upperclassmen brought positivity to the team and made sure everyone had a good time while working hard, something I try to model for our current underclassmen" That leadership comes with a bonus this year, as Emma has had an opportunity to cheer alongside and mentor her younger sister, freshman Leah Guarni. "I feel like it has allowed us to grow together," says Emma. Nick and Beth noted how wonderful of an opportunity it is to watch their daughters cheer together, saying, "This year is the only year they will share at OE, and has been a special year so far." They go on to add, "They work together as teammates and also base stunts together. Emma is a great role model and leader for Leah, bonding and spending a lot of time together at practices, games, and team activities." Tiffany noted how their bond made the team stronger, saying, "I also see Emma mentoring her sister (along with the other freshman) the same way she was when she was a freshman. This will be her legacy and how she leaves her mark on the program once she graduates." Emma has also had the opportunity to show off her leadership skills as the Editor in Chief of the yearbook. Yearbook advisor and head of the English Department, Colleen Calvey, has taught Emma all four years and knew she was the right person for the job. "Emma is responsible, kind, and a great writer," says Colleen. She goes on to add, "She never backs down from difficult tasks and is always willing to try new approaches. I've seen her grow as a leader who can delegate and share a vision for something. She is confident, more aware of what she wants, and isn't afraid to share her thoughts on topics. She has always been very intelligent and hard-working, but over the last four years I've seen her find her voice and confidence." Emma is also active in many clubs around the school as a member of the National Honor Society, Rho Kappa, Science National Honor Society, Yearbook Club, and Senior Class. With a 4.3. G.P.A., Emma is hoping to attend a large state school with her eyes set on the University of Illinois in hopes of becoming a member of the cheerleading team and studying either journalism or computer programming/science. While the next step in Emma's journey is rapidly approaching, she continues to be mindful of the impact she will leave on the cheer program, saying, "I want to keep our legacy and tradition of the program going by making sure my younger teammates have a good experience and keep a positive attitude." As a servant leader to others, Emma advises any future Wolves by saying, "If you find something you like, stick with it and continue with what you are passionate about." Emma's passion and leadership will be her legacy, and there is little doubt her freshman teammates she is currently mentoring will continue that tradition for years to come.