Area athletes play volleyball, cheer for their schools

It never stops.

That’s how Gonzales junior Morgan Simper describes her Fall seasons. Simper is a member of both the Gonzales varsity volleyball team and Gonzales varsity cheerleading squad, and Friday nights are among the busiest for her.

“I’ve been doing both since seventh grade,” Simper said. “Doing both volleyball and cheer is an adrenaline rush and you’re always on the go.”

Simper is one of nine area athletes who balance varsity volleyball and varsity cheerleading on Friday nights. She also is one of three Gonzales High School students who participate in both.

“I learned how to be responsible through this Friday night routine,” Simper said. “I know how to get stuff done and not procrastinate.”

Simper and fellow junior Kiley Braune are both two-year lettermen on the Lady Apache volleyball team and two-year varsity cheerleaders. While they each like both activities, Braune is quick to point out which one comes first.

“Volleyball comes first,” Braune said.

While their Fall seasons are busy, both Braune and Simper are involved in Spring activities. Braune plays mixed doubles in tennis, while Simper is the catcher for the softball team.

Sophomore Danyelle Glass is the other Gonzales Friday night dual-tasker. This is her first year as both a varsity volleyball player and a varsity cheerleader.

“I’m used to Friday nights now,” Glass said. “I have patience and good time management skills thanks to this.”

After having knee surgery early this summer, Glass was told she would miss at least three months.

But she was back in action less than two months later.

In addition to volleyball and cheer, Glass also participates on the Gonzales girls track and field team. She also is involved in rodeo and competitive cheerleading.

Like Gonzales, Nixon-Smiley has a trio of varsity volleyball players/varsity cheerleaders. Senior D’Laine Palacio and juniors Treca Deleon and Devon Tristan all have double duty on Friday nights.

“I’ve done both since I’ve been in high school,” Palacio said. “They’re both a lot of fun.”

Palacio has been a varsity cheerleader for four years and also is in her second year of varsity volleyball. She’s been a captain on the cheer squad for three years now.

“I love being cheer captain,” Palacio said. “I’d like to cheer in college. I like volleyball too, and I think we have a good chance to make the playoffs. We’re closer as a team this year.”

Palacio plans to go to either Texas State or Texas and plans to not only major in physical therapy, but also wants to try out for the cheerleading squad at the school of her choice. She is currently ranked fifth in her senior class and also participates on the Nixon-Smiley girls basketball, softball and girls track and field teams.

Deleon is in her third year as a varsity cheerleader, but in her first as a varsity volleyball player.

“Varsity volleyball moves at a much faster pace than JV,” Deleon said. “I’m having fun with it though. I love cheerleading because I get to cheer for the boys and get the crowd involved in the game.”

Last season, the UIL split Classes 2A and A football into two divisions — Division I and Division II. Because of this split, football teams have different districts and schedules than their volleyball counterparts.

A week ago, Deleon, Palacio and Tristan played a district volleyball match in San Antonio. After the match, the three dressed in their cheerleading uniforms and their parents drove them to Dilley for the Mustangs’ football contest against Dilley.

“It’s different not having the same opponent for volleyball that you have for football and then having to travel from the volleyball match to the football game,” Deleon said. “But it’s fun and worth it.”

Deleon also participates in girls basketball and track and field. She does not know which one she wants to be a part of in college.

Tristan is a two-year letterman in volleyball and a two-year varsity cheerleader. While she enjoys both, Tristan is quick to point out which one she prefers.

“I like volleyball better,” Tristan said. “I’m more talented in volleyball and I like being a team leader. Cheerleading is fun too though. I like supporting the football team.”

Tristan also participates in tennis. She hopes to play volleyball in college, and Texas A&M-Kingsville is her top choice now.

As for right now, Tristan wants to lead the Lady Mustangs to the volleyball playoffs for the first time since 2009.

“We can make it,” she said. “We just have to be consistent and take care of business.”

St. Paul is no stranger to success on the volleyball court — nor to having varsity volleyball players/cheerleaders. The Lady Cardinals have a trio of juniors in Mary Adamek, Abby Hull and Katelynn Leist who break a sweat on the court for the St. Paul volleyball team before cheering on their school’s football team.

“I’ve been doing the volleyball/cheer thing since fifth grade,” Leist said. “You just have to teach yourself not to get much sleep during the Fall.”

Not only does Leist cheer and play volleyball, she also runs cross country. This triple-tasker has grown accustomed to 20-hour Fridays.

Out of her three Fall activities, Leist said she likes cheerleading the best.

“I always dressed up as a cheerleader when I was little,” she said. “I also like cheering on the boys.”

Adamek was like Leist her first two years of high school as she did cheerleading, cross country and volleyball. But she quit cross country this year to focus on grades, cheerleading, volleyball and softball.

“Softball is my most natural sport,” Adamek said. “I give everything I have in softball, but I also like cheerleading and volleyball.”

Adamek and Leist both play infield for the Lady Cardinals softball team as does Hull. Hull leans more towards volleyball and cheerleading though.

“I like playing volleyball because of the quick pace, teamwork and competitive nature of the game,” Hull said. “But I think I have a better chance to cheer in college.”

Hull recalled an interesting time last season when she had to go from a volleyball match in Victoria to a football game in Stockdale.

“We finished playing our match then I jumped in my parents’ vehicle and changed into my cheer uniform on the way to Stockdale,” she said.

Sounds like it never stops.