Bonded together by a tight-knit friendship and two acrobatic sports, seniors Jaime Lin and Ashley Tabayoyong foster a unique connection forged over ten years through gymnastics and cheer.
Their friendship began in the same first grade class at Stonegate Elementary and only became stronger when they shared the same gymnastics gym. This shared passion allowed the two friends to easily express personal and athletic struggles with each other’s unending support, according to Tabayoyong.
“[We met] in first grade,” Tabayoyong said. “I think we grew together really quickly, and from first to now, she’s been there for me, and we just do everything together.”
During the pandemic and the start of their freshman year, Tabayoyong and Lin transitioned from gymnastics to Portola High’s varsity cheer team where they helped each other integrate their knowledge from gymnastics and become familiar with new cheer skills, despite not being placed in the same stunt group.
“When I was in middle school, I was very shy and antisocial,” Lin said. “Knowing someone that I knew previously on the gymnastics team made me so much more comfortable for me to get into cheer. She always brings out the best in me.”
However, they quickly realized that not all skills from gymnastics could be transferred to cheerleading. Gymnastics did not help with stunting, a difficult skill the duo improved on during their years in cheer, according to varsity cheer coach Michele Correll.
“I think it’s the same feeling as back in middle school,” Tabayoyong said. “It’s very much like I have someone under me when I’m cheering who I know that I can trust right now. It’s nice having someone that you know is always gonna catch you.
The duo’s close bond was a major factor in their success on the cheer and gymnastics teams as their comfort with each other created an environment where making mistakes was not an embarrassment, according to Lin.
“I think it is easier to give corrections to somebody that you know really well, because sometimes, people are too scared to correct a teammate because you don’t want to overstep, but there’s not really much of an overstepping in our relationship,” Lin said.
Lin and Tabayoyong have also positively affected the Pep Squad’s environment and attitude towards the sport. The two were always excited to work together and were models for other teammates to become more eager to socialize and foster healthy friendships, according to Correll.
“At practice, any time we have water breaks, they’re always hanging out,” Correll said. “While we are stretching, they’re talking, and anytime they’re in the same stunt group, they’re very excited and scream ‘Yay, we get to be in the same stunt group!’”
When Tabayoyong was asked to the Homecoming dance during a pep rally this year, Lin said that she could not contain her excitement and happiness for her friend and celebrated as if it was her own asking.
“For her Homecoming asking during the pep rally, I was bawling my eyes out because I was so emotional that day,” Lin said. “The minute the music started to come on, even though I knew beforehand that he was going to ask her out, and I thought I was prepared for it, I just started crying because I was just so happy for her.”
After ten years of being each other’s support, the duo is ready to finish their last year of high school together on a high note.
“It’s cool that we started solid together and now we’ll be able to finish our senior year together because we’re in the same stunt group,” Lin said.
