Kaitlyn Sexton is bold, outgoing cheer natural. She's always the one to jump into any stunt and try something new. She would never admit this, but you can tell just by watching her that she is the type that can watch someone do something and probably figure it out herself in a few tries. What she will tell you is that she owes her success to teaching others. As an Instructor on UCA College Staff, she's honed her body control and improved the basic techniques that make the hard skills look easy.

This April, Kaitlyn competed with the USA National All Girl Team for the second time in her cheerleading career and has added another gold medal to her resume. Our cameras followed her and the 2016 All Girl Team to document the training, tribulation and triumphs of competing at the highest level of cheerleading. Get to know a little bit about Kaitlyn, and follow her journey in the upcoming series, Going for Gold: US National Cheer Team exclusively on Varsity.tv. Watch the full trailer below.

Trust yourself and remember that your abilities are far greater than you think they might be. Commit to technique and perfecting your skills and you'll surprise yourself.

CHEER BACKGROUND:

ALL STAR

• Cheer Jamz All Stars, 2003-2008 (Poughkeepsie, NY)
  

SCHOOL

Arlington High School, 2007-2011 (Poughkeepsie, NY)

• Canam National Champions, 2009
  

Hofstra University. 2011-2015 (Hempstead, NY)

• UCA National Champions 2012, 2013, 2015
  
• UCA World Champions 2012, 2015
  
• UCA All Girl Partner Stunt National Champions 2013, 2015
  
• UCA All Girl Partner Stunt World Champions 2013
  
• Stunt athlete of the year 2015
  

USA National Team

• USA All-Girl (2015), gold-medalist
  
• USA All-Girl (2016), gold-medalist
  

What motivates you?
I don't want to look back at that video of any skill or performance I've done and have any regrets.

What is the key to cheering at an elite level?
Trust yourself and remember that your abilities are far greater than you think they might be. Commit to technique and perfecting your skills and you'll surprise yourself. 

You've been cheering for most of your life, what has been your favorite part?
It sets you up for success outside of cheerleading. Everything from being healthy, working out and the physical aspect. But it also teaches you about time management, public speaking and really builds your mental toughness. 

What was your experience trying out for the 2016 USA National Team?
When you try out for the All Girl team, you do it in stunt groups and my group didn't stunt together until the morning of the try out. We woke up at 5:30am to stunt in the grass before the try out and we could not even hit a full up. But we went in just trying to focus and hit every single stunt so clean and made it look effortless. It was awesome, especially because my whole group made it.

Describe the feeling before you took the mat to compete.
That routine is the most people you'll perform in front of in your whole entire life. Going into it, the USA National Coed Team had performed already and they hit a great routine so it was definitely nerve-wracking because everyone wants you to succeed too. But you just walk on that mat and have as much fun as you can and it's over before you know it.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Instagram: @kaitsexton
Twitter: @kaitsexton
Favorite TV show: American Horror Story / Chopped
Favorite movie: Gone Girl
Favorite food: Hibachi Chicken
Heroes/influential people (and why): My dad! His character is all I could ever want for myself and anyone around me. Also USA National All Girl Coach Tony Nash.
Hobbies: This summer while traveling, I've started a new hobby of reading airport books. I'm usually traveling when I finish my books, so I'll just buy another right away.

If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would take a relaxing vacation on a beach so I can turn my phone off! 

What's playing in your headphones/ear buds right now?
I got this feeling by JT

Any hidden talents?  
I'm really pigeon toed, so I can turn my foot almost completely backwards. Tony sometimes has me do "pigeon toed heel stretches" as a joke. 

What's the best advice you've ever been given? 
That nothing is impossible as long as you believe it will be easy! 

Do you have a philosophy or favorite quote you live by?  
If you're going to do anything, do it well.

Any superstitions or rituals you have around competing? 
I have horrible performance anxiety. I always look to find my spotter, my coach, my boyfriend, and my best friend before I compete. They keep me relaxed enough to stay focused.