By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — A former Del Rio High School cheerleader captain capped off her Air Force Academy football cheering career Saturday in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.
Kaitlyn Katz, who graduated from Del Rio High School in 2019, cheered in her third bowl game as the Academy defeated James Madison University 31-21.
“Being the last game, it’s really bittersweet,” she said.
While many Laughlin members do three years and move on to their next assignment with fond memories, the Katzes have been part of Del Rio and Laughlin’s fabric for more than 10 years, more than half of Dad’s career.
Kaitlyn’s father, Col. Andrew Katz, is the 47th Flying Training Wing vice commander.
The family, including older siblings Kaitlyn and Andrews, was later joined by Leilah in 2007, trotted around the globe until the Air Force said it was time to return to where it all began, Laughlin.
“We were excited,” said Colonel Katz. “We loved our first tour here, built a lot of friendships and we knew how great Del Rio was.”
While Dad rose through the leadership ranks, serving as squadron director of operations, squadron commander and deputy group commander, Kaitlyn got her high school diploma and an appointment to the Air Force Academy.
During her time at Del Rio High School, she was a cheerleader for three years, serving as the squad’s captain in her senior year.
She’s been given the vision of being a cheerleader by a terminally ill uncle. “He told me I was meant to be a cheerleader,” Kaitlyn said. “So, I did it for him and I loved it.”
“Coming back to Del Rio was really cool because we were coming back from Italy and not many military kids get the chance to graduate from where they were born,” Kaitlyn said.
However, she said at Del Rio, while she’d set the goal of fulfilling that uncle’s prediction, the vision would occasionally get hazy. However, one mentor would always step in and encourage her and help her focus on the dream.
“When I was struggling and didn’t think I could do it, Coach (Frenchy) McCrea (then the football coach, now the athletic director) would always step in,” she said. “He’d remind me of my goals and keep me focused on becoming a Division 1 athlete.”
McCrea said it was part of being a mentor. “I’d just encourage her and try to mold her into being the best leader she could be and help her navigate the waters of leading the squad,” McCrea said.
Katz accomplished her goal and got that coveted Academy slot and found it to be tough.
Days start with a 7 a.m. formation, lots of classes, close to four hours
of practice and the rat race doesn’t stop until 11 p.m. She was selected to serve the Air Force as a Security Forces officer after graduation in May.
Cheerleading at the college level is more than prepping for the next game. The squads from different universities compete against each other, and the Academy finished in the Top 10 nationally last year and are hoping to close out Kaitlyn’s college career with a cheerleading national title April 10-13 in Daytona Beach.
Kaitlyn is one of the team’s fliers, meaning that when they build a pyramid, the 4-foot, 11-inch is at the top and hopefully safely flies down into her waiting teammates’ arms.
She said she never worries if they’re going to be there or not.
“My teammates are like a second family to me,” she said. “There is no one I’d rather spend time with and I know they’re going to be there for me.”
However, there is one actual family member on the team. Her brother Andrew followed in her footsteps to the Academy as well and supports the cheerleaders as a manager. However, in a non-Air Force environment, Andrew would probably be called a Social Media Creator, as he’s usually got a camera in his hand trying to get footage of his big sister and her teammates. The footage is used for the Academy’s different social media platforms.
However, Andrew has already made his mark on the world drilling with his rifle, as he’s nabbed four world titles, two in Collegiate National Champion for Solo and Tandem Exhibition Drill and two as World Drill Champion Runner-Up for Solo and Tandem Exhibition Drill.
Just because football season is over, doesn’t mean she’s putting her cheer gear away. There’s still basketball and of course, the national competition in Daytona.
Not many will be surprised if she brings home a national title in April, just like no one is surprised that she’s exactly where she aimed for first as a sophomore at Del Rio High School.
“When I first met her, all she talked about was to be an Air Force Academy cheerleader,” McCrea said. ‘I’m not the least bit surprised she’s doing that now.”
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Contact the author at JoelaLangton@gmail.com .
