Cedarville Lady Pirate, Katelynn Oden, is officially a college-level dual threat as she signed her letter of intent for both Cheer and Track with John Brown University on Monday, May 17. “At first I wasn’t sure what college I was going to,” explained Oden. “I want to be a psychologist and there aren’t many schools around here that had amazing psych programs. My initial choices were Arkansas Tech and the University of Central Arkansas until one of my mom’s friends told me about John Brown. She informed me of their psychology program and that she actually got her psych degree there. That’s when JBU was put on my college list of “maybes”. I began researching the school and was super excited to find out it was a Christian college and I was able to practice my faith on campus. It wasn’t until I stepped on the grounds of JBU when I fell in love with the campus. Everyone there is so nice and welcoming, it’s such a small school and everyone knows everyone. I met with the cheer coach and some of the cheerleaders on my first visit and knew that I wanted to cheer there while studying. Honestly, I don’t see myself going to any other college, this one was hand-chosen by the man upstairs for me!”
Katey first became interested in cheer when she was about 3 or 4 years old. Always full of life, Oden loved the idea of being in front of people and cheering on the football players. “My cheer coach, Treva Rice started my passion for cheer. She actually started out as my children’s pastor but was pretty much like a second mom growing up. She always told me I was going to do great things and that I was going to be a pretty awesome cheerleader whenever I got older. If it wasn’t for Treva, I’m not sure if I would have even picked up my first set of Pom poms.” Now when it came to track, that was a completely different story. “In 7th-Grade, I absolutely hated track other than the field events! I hated running and used every excuse not to run and eventually quit. I joined back my 9th-Grade year and still wasn’t fond of it, but I kept competing and trying for better times because I had a coach that cared and always had my best interest in mind.”
“Katelynn has run for me for several years,” explained Cedarville Girls Track Coach, Jarrod Remer. “One thing I always appreciated about her if she put the needs of the team above herself. She was always willing to try out new events if it would help us out team wise. She was on the Jr High District Champion team as an 8th-Grader and the runner-up team as a 9th-Grader. She was a part of our 4×400 team this year that qualified for the State Track Meet in Prescott. Overall, she is just a great kid that will go on to do great things in college. We are all so proud of her!” Katey ends her high school outdoor track career with personal records in Discus (60-11), High Jump (4-4), Long Jump (14-7.5). Pole Vault (7-6), Triple Jump (30-1.75), 100 Meter Dash (15.28), 300 Meter Hurdles (56.56), and 400 Meter Dash (1:13.72).
“Coach Remer has put so much time and effort in the track team and has always given me that extra push whenever I didn’t feel like doing anything,” Oden continued. “I enjoy watching him get excited when a girl sets a PR or does really well in an event. If it wasn’t for Remer, I wouldn’t be going to college for track. He saw what I didn’t in myself and made sure that I began to live up to my full potential.” A lifelong Cedarville student, along with track and cheer, Katey has kept herself busy (busy being an understatement) in other aspects of high school as well. She participated in basketball and softball (up until her senior year), Beta club, EAST, Pirate Partners, student council (Stu Co-President her senior year), class officers (Vice President 9th-12th), AP classes, Concurrent classes, as well as Youth Alive. With her high school chapter closing and her college chapter beginning, Katey is more than ready for life as a Golden Eagle. “I hope not only to gain new friends, excel athletically, and to start the journey of helping others with their psychology program, but to also further my faith and to become more of a child of God and represent Him well on this journey!”
Photos courtesy of Amber Oden
Congratulations Katey! These signing days are definitely the highlight of my job. We at Resident Press are truly proud of you and can not wait to see what the rest of your journey has to offer!
