PLAINFIELD —
Lexi Hall recently returned from a trip to London where she represented herself and the town of Plainfield during a New Year’s Day parade.
She got the opportunity through her cheerleading experience at Plainfield High School.
“I was at a UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) camp at IU and our coach talked to all the seniors about trying out,” Hall said.
Hall, along with Plainfield senior Bailey Jackman, were chosen to cheer at the annual celebration representing the community.
“We both made it, but Bailey didn’t end up going,” she said. “It was really kind of scary. I didn’t know anybody else going. I got really sick on the plane ride. I told them, ‘I’m dying. I’m not going to make it. But I ended up having so much fun.”
Hall ended up rooming with a cheerleader from Marian and says the two became good friends.
“It was very different there,” she said. “I think it made me appreciate home more. I was excited to be there, but America is much better.”
The group of about 180 cheerleaders got to go sightseeing for a couple of days. They were able to visit various sights including Windsor Castle and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
“The pictures I took don’t do it justice,” Hall said. “It was so beautiful.”
The task of cheering with girls from across the country proved to be a difficult.
“They had sent us the dance we were going to do ahead of time,” Hall said. “It was kind of hard because we had to learn it on our own and then they changed it when we got there.”
She said the changes came only two days before the New Year’s Day parade.
“We were doing all the sight seeing and didn’t have much time to practice,” she added. “The changes were stressful. They taught us some chants we did during the parade, but there really wasn’t much time to prepare.”
Hall said she has been cheering for three years. She no longer cheers for PHS but continues to cheer on the West Side Cougar All Stars, a competition team.
Hall is the daughter of Jodi and Normal Craney and Ryan and Michelle Hall and the sibling of Sarah and Jenna Craney and Tyler and Ellen Hall.
“I’m the oldest and quite a bit older,” she said. “Jenna is the closest to my age and she’s 11.”
Her youngest sister, Ellen, has not yet reached her first birthday.
Hall is finishing up her senior year at PHS. She is planning to attend Indiana University in the fall and major in forensic pathology.
brenda.holmes@flyergroup.com
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