In a world where most student-athletes dedicate themselves to mastering one sport, senior Brielle Pickett has excelled in two – both of which could not be more different.
She is not only a state-qualifying cross country runner, but also a key member of the national title winning dance team. Both of these sports rely on a combination of endurance, artistry, and unwavering work ethic.
Her mornings often begin before sunrise with long distance training runs, and her nights end late in the evening at the dance studio. Pickett said that both sports challenge her in different ways, but each one has also made her stronger in both.
”They complement each other very well,” she said. “I would say the stretching in dance has also prevented many injuries in running.”
Pickett’s love for both sports dates back to when she was a young kid and the influence her family had on her to pursue both dance and cross country. She started running with her older siblings in third grade, and her mom was a dancer.
Her commitment to both sports has paid off. As a runner, Pickett’s determination earned her a trip to the 2024 state cross country championship. During her time on the Bearden dance team, the Bulldogs have won two national titles – game day in 2023 and pom in 2024.
Teammates from both teams praise her ability to juggle a demanding schedule while remaining committed to both. They admire her ability to be so versatile and describe her as having an immense impact on the team’s morale.
“It requires a lot of discipline to be able to work that hard,” senior dance team member Emily Carver said, “and it definitely rubs off on the team in the best way possible.”
Pickett said she hopes to qualify for both the region and state meets on Oct. 29 and Nov. 7. Unfortunately, her ability to juggle both sports will become impossible the day of the state meet because it takes place at the same time as the state dance competition – in a different city.
While she expects to qualify for the state meet, she is instead going to participate with her dance team members at the state competition.
“I chose the one where I won’t let anyone down,” Pickett said.
Pickett and the dance team will perform at the state competition at the Knoxville Convention Center on Nov. 7.