Allie McNesby will always be a Bambi.
And she’s always been one.
Even before she ever started high school.
McNesby is a senior at St. Hubert High School, and for the past four years, she’s been a key member of the Bambies cheerleading squad.
In fact, she’s been a key member of the team for much longer.
Her mom, Lisa, is the coach. Her uncle Paul Ballentine, a longtime assistant.
So while growing up, she was doing her own thing in cheerleading while cheering for, and helping out the Bambies.
“Growing up, I cheered at St. Albert the Great, that parish,” McNesby said. “Then when I was older, Crispin athletics. Then when I was picking a high school, I wanted to cheer, so I went to St. Hubert, I knew it would give me a great opportunity to cheer.
“I was always around the cheerleading team. My mom is the coach and my uncle is a big part of it. I knew how much everyone loved being around the team and I wanted that. I wanted to be part of something that was big.”
She certainly was.
During her time at Hubert, the Bambies haven’t just collected Catholic League championships or state titles. They’ve been among the best in the nation.
This year, the team finished fourth in the nation. Last year, the Bambies finished runner-up. Freshman year, McNesby helped the team finish fifth. And in her sophomore year, McNesby and her teammates were national champions.
When you finish your high school career with four top-five finishes against the rest of the nation, it’s safe to say it was a success.
“It’s definitely been a lot of fun, I feel like I grew up in that sport always watching St. Hubert,” McNesby said. “Having them coach me, I’ve always thought it would be fun and it was, it was an amazing experience. I got to experience it on a deeper level. It meant a lot to all three of us. We have a bond.
“Cheering for St. Hubert is special. I knew that before I got here, but I’ve grown so many friendships. Freshman year, I didn’t know that many girls. Knowing I’m leaving my best friends to go to college will be hard but I can’t wait to make great memories. Leadership and friendship, I’ve learned a lot. Especially sisterhood. That’s the biggest thing you learn at St. Hubert. It’s the sisterhood.”
And she loved winning with her teammates.
“They were all great, being able to put out a routine and showing the coaches and families that we can do it meant the world to us,” she said. “We worked very hard. Being a part of a program that means so much, even if it wasn’t the best result, you know those girls will always be there for you.”
It’s hard graduating, but this isn’t the end.
She’s not leaving St. Hubert, she’s just expanding her circle of friends.
Next year, McNesby will cheer at Penn State.
“I’m super excited about Penn State,” said McNesby, who will go in undecided, but is thinking business is a possible major down the line. “I always dreamed about that when I was a little girl. My mom and uncle both cheered there when they were in college. So it’s something I always wanted to do.
“I loved Penn State since I was a little girl, they both cheered there, I can’t remember how long I’ve been going there. It gives me a sense of belonging. And I’m going for the academics. It’s a great school. And it has amazing school spirit. It had everything I could want. To me, it really feels like home.”
Just as it was in high school, cheerleading will be a big part of McNesby’s college experience, but she’ll certainly stay busy in other areas, just as she does in high school.
At Hubert, on top of being a cheerleader, McNesby runs track, where she competes in the 300-meter hurdles and both relays.
She is also the school’s student body president and a member of the National Honor Society. She’s at school more than she’s home and that’s how she loves it.
“It was hard, definitely, but I knew I had to be good at time management,” McNesby said. “It’s a busy schedule, so that was good. I love being busy and having a lot of things to do. “
That’s a trait she gets from her parents.
Not only is McNesby’s mom a successful cheerleading coach, her dad Chris is the basketball coach at Roman Catholic.
“A lot of people ask me how I manage everything, but I always find time throughout the day,” she said. “I learned the lesson to work really hard and have good time management. Having that will carry on in life. I learned that from my parents a lot. Watching them do that with all the things they’ve done has helped me do that.
“My mom has really done a good job trying to figure out college for me and cheering in college and helping me out with everything. I’ve always looked up to her through when she coaches and when I cheer, I always looked up her.
“Same with my dad. My dad is very supportive, too, he comes to all my stuff. It’s great when he can and he’s not busy with basketball. He always goes out of his way to help me.”
And soon she’ll be following in both their footsteps.
This summer, before she hits Happy Valley, she’ll be working for the Universal Cheerleading Association.
“I’ll be a UCA staffer, traveling, working with athletes all over the country to teach cheerleading,” McNesby said. “I attended a tryout at Garnet Valley, they selected a few individuals. My friend Hope Bucci, she’s doing it with me. It’s going to be fun, she’s the best. I think that being a part of UCA is something I always wanted to do.
“After college, I would love to do something that after watching my mom and dad, it’s given me qualities that they had and it’s super important. I’m not sure, I think I’ll get a mix of both. I really do love how they both coach, but I would be coaching cheerleading. My dad would crack up if I coached basketball, though.”
