When Kyra Cardine stepped onto the wrestling mat for the first time, she wasn’t sure how far she wanted to take it. A freshman at Mercer County High School, she had dabbled in the sport but wasn’t sure if she was ready for full competition. Instead, she started with exhibition matches, testing herself against opponents without the pressure of official scoring. But something clicked.

As she gained confidence, Kyra took a leap—competing at regionals in Jacksonville, where she finished third and earned a spot at sectionals. It was a major moment, not just for her wrestling career, but for her growing self-belief. "I wasn’t sure if I was ready, but I pushed myself—and now I’m going to sectionals," she says.

Though wrestling is often seen as an individual sport, Kyra knows success doesn’t happen in isolation. She credits her coach, Chris LeClaire, as one of her biggest inspirations. A family friend and a believer in her potential before she even started, Chris encouraged her to give the sport a real shot. "He told me I could do bigger things," she says. "And obviously, I have."

But wrestling is just one piece of Kyra’s packed athletic schedule. In addition to competing on the mat, she’s also a cheerleader—not just for football game days, but for competitive cheer, which requires a completely different skill set. She thrives in both environments, but she’s clear about the difference: "Game-day cheer is about being part of the energy. Competitive cheer is about pushing yourself to win. It’s mental, physical, and way more intense."

She initially joined competitive cheer by chance, stepping in as a last-minute replacement for an injured teammate. That one opportunity turned into something bigger. Over the summer, she worked hard to build up her tumbling skills and mastered moves like the back handspring and back tuck. Now, she’s a main base on the squad, an integral part of every routine.

In both wrestling and cheer, Kyra has found different forms of teamwork. Wrestling may be one-on-one when she’s on the mat, but the camaraderie with her teammates is undeniable. Cheer, however, requires an entirely different kind of trust and coordination. "In wrestling, it’s just you out there, but in cheer, you can’t do it alone. You have to have a flyer. You have to have a base. Everyone depends on each other," she explains.

Outside of sports, Kyra has a full schedule and a strong academic foundation. She’s particularly drawn to physics, an unusual choice for a freshman. She admits she’s "average at math" compared to her mom and brother, who excel in it, but she still enjoys the challenge. She’s also a reader, gravitating toward romance novels, and has a love for music—especially singing.

When she’s not practicing, competing, or studying, Kyra is at home with her single mother and two younger siblings, who happen to be twins. She also has an older brother who has already graduated from college. "My mom is incredible," she says. "She’s raising three kids on her own, and she just makes it work."

That kind of strength and resilience is something Kyra carries with her in everything she does. Wrestling has given her the aggression and drive to push through challenges, while cheer has helped her develop teamwork and trust in others. "From wrestling, I’ve learned to be forceful and get things done. From cheer, I’ve learned how to build strong connections with people," she says.

As she prepares for sectionals and looks ahead to three more years of high school competition, she’s keeping an open mind about where these experiences might take her. One thing is certain—whether she’s lifting a teammate in the air, stepping onto the wrestling mat, or tackling a tough physics problem, Kyra Cardine is always ready for the next challenge.

A Postscript: After this interview, Kyra successfully competed in sectionals and advanced to the state tournament. Kyra is the first MCHS athlete to compete at the state level for girls wrestling.