High school athlete Alexa Buffalino is used to performing a balancing act. As a cheerleader for both CC Champs and Ramsey HS in Ramsey, NJ, Buff (as her friends call her) has helped her teams take home more than six national titles and 17 regional titles, all while managing to maintain good grades in school.

But there’s much more to this 17-year-old than just competitions and classes. Read on for 13 reasons we think our August Cheerleader of the Month really rocks! For more about Alexa, read her story in the August issue of American Cheerleader.

1. She’s a natural-born performer.
“I love performing in front of a crowd. It’s especially cool when you hear the crowd gasp or go wild when you nail a stunt. I love showing everyone how hard we’ve worked!”

2. She loves being a high school cheerleader…
“School cheerleading is a lot of fun because you get to cheer for your classmates and everyone goes to the games. All my friends are there, and I love supporting the teams.”

3. …But she also digs all-star cheerleading.
“All-star cheer is awesome because I love the challenge of competition. You know the audience is expecting something amazing, and that’s what you’re there to give them.”

4. She’s close to her family.
“My mom and dad are both proud cheer parents, and they come to all my games and competitions with their teamwear on. They’re my biggest supporters and encourage me to follow my dreams and take them as far as I can.”

5. She can laugh at herself.
“When we were at nationals in Baltimore, my team began to enter through the curtains backstage onto the competition mat, when suddenly my team members began to fall down. It turned out there was a bump in the mat where the pieces were taped together, and my teammates were tripping over them. We were piling up before our routine even began!”

6. She’s a hard worker.
“I’m so proud of how well I’m doing in school this year, because it hasn’t always been that way in the past. This year, I’ve made honor roll every semester. I received Most Spirited Cheerleader from my high school coach and was voted captain by my teammates.”

7. She’s talented.
“I can do a full-twisting layout, and I’m working on my standing full and double full. One of my hardest stunt sequences is a Heel Stretch to Scorpion, Foot to Chin, Scale, double down.”

8. She’s not afraid to stand up for a cause.
“I’m involved with the SADD club at my school. It’s Students Against Destructive Decisions.”

9. She knows how to have fun!
“In my spare time—what little of it there is—I love to hang out with my family and friends. I also like to text on my phone and upload all my pictures for my friends to see. It takes forever, though, because I’m always taking snapshots!”

10. She’s a great role model.
“I try to be friendly and say hello to everyone I see. I think it’s important because, as a cheerleader, you’re so visible, and the reputation you create is so important. People look up to you, and you have to earn their respect.”

11. She likes to break a sweat.
“I hate to say it, but I don’t mind conditioning. You just know you’re getting stronger, and in the end, you’ll be better for it and so will your routine.”

12. She sets her goals high.
“This will probably be my last year in all-stars, so I hope to return to Worlds. On my high school squad, I’m excited about becoming captain and creating my own routine and music. I really want to make sure it’s a great year for everyone.”

13. She wants to help others.
“I really like to teach people things and feel I have a knack for it, especially when it comes to physical fitness. I’d like to help other kids feel good about themselves and coach my own squad one day.”

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