FAYETTEVILLE HIGH School’s Class of 2025 turned their tassels this spring, but for Za’Lea Hampton and Akeelah Pullen, the milestone marked a new beginning, not an end. They graduated with cheer scholarships in hand. According to their coach, Rose Murray, they were among some of the first in school history to continue cheering at the collegiate level.
They’re doing it together.
“We met our freshman year,” Pullen said. “But it felt like I knew her longer. She was the only person I trusted to put me up in a stunt.”
That trust stuck. The pair’s bond grew through long practices, high-pressure competitions, and everyday ups and downs in high school life. “I felt relieved that I would have someone I already knew and was close to on the team, and so happy for both of us,” Hampton shared.
Their journey began in their sophomore year, a little later than most. But both quickly found their footing, and with it, a love for the sport, the friendships it built, and the coaches who believed in them.
“Cheer is an emotional and mental sport,” Pullen said. “You constantly think everything you do is wrong or not good enough, so hearing that I had received a scholarship made me very excited.”
They’ll cheer this fall at the University of Tennessee Southern, bringing a deep gratitude for the team and town that raised them. One memory they both treasure: a cheer competition trip to Virginia Beach, where their team placed first. “It meant a lot to us because we all worked hard to accomplish that,” Hampton said.
Coach Murray remembers their early days. “They were quiet and reserved. Throughout their time with me, I have watched them become outgoing and role models. They are both quiet leaders, leading their team by example.”
She hopes their story is just the beginning. “I pray they’re not the last,” Murray said. “Their achievements show younger cheerleaders at FHS that hard work, dedication, and teamwork pay off.”
That message is already on Hampton’s heart. “I feel honored. I want to set an example,” she said. “I would tell younger cheerleaders to always chase their dreams no matter what. Don’t base what you do on what other people are doing. Be yourself, and work hard to get what you want.”
Pullen’s advice: “Make the most of every moment. Show up, even when you don’t want to.”
Hampton plans to major in nursing with a minor in coaching. Pullen looks forward to stunting more and seeing where cheer takes her next. What they both carry forward is a sense of belonging to their team, to their families, and to each other.
“Always keep your head held high,” Hampton said. “Remain positive and make sure God is a constant in your life.”
The same hands that steadied each other in their first stunts will now lift them into a new chapter. The bond they built in Fayetteville isn’t staying behind — it’s going with them.
Two graduates. One legacy. Still side by side. GN
