Breaking barriers runs in senior cheer captain Kristin Price’s blood.

Her father, Christopher Price, was the first African American from Wilson County, Tenn., to play in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals.

Her older sister, 2022 Coppell High School graduate Morgan Price, became the first gymnast from a historically Black college and university, to score a perfect 10 in a bars event as a gymnast at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.

As Coppell High School’s first African American cheer captain, Kristin has also made history herself.

“I still remember the first day I saw her in the gym – she lit up the entire room,” Coppell Cheer coach Lindsey Bates said.

Yet, cheer was not always part of Kristin’s plan. Growing up, she trained as a gymnast alongside her sisters, Morgan and 2021 CHS graduate and University of Arkansas senior gymnast Frankie Price, destined to follow the same path. But, her journey took a different path.

“I was nervous because my sisters had been in gymnastics for so long, and I struggled to find what was right for me,” Kristin said.

That changed freshman year when she came across an Instagram post about Coppell Cheer tryouts. Encouraged by her mother, Marsha Price, a former Vanderbilt University cheerleader, Kristin decided to take a leap of faith.

Stepping into tryouts with a pom-pom in hand and a gleaming smile, Kristin’s enthusiasm for cheer was clear.

“Right away, I thought she was naturally talented– very polite, always saying hi to everyone and thanking them as she left,” Coppell cheer coach Debra Sartin said. “Because of her gymnastics background, we could just tell she would be great.”

Kristin preferred the simplicity and camaraderie of working as a team in cheer, something rarely experienced as a gymnast.

“In gymnastics, it’s more individual,” Kristin said. “In cheer, you focus on one routine and work as a team to achieve your goals, which I liked because I’ve always preferred being in a group rather than by myself. When I tried out, something clicked; it was so much fun, and I knew it was right for me.”

Through countless hours of practice, Kristin picked up cheer, fueling her success. She was named first lieutenant junior year and later promoted to captain within the same year.

“I had just come back from a football game and my coaches pulled me into the office, and at first, I was really nervous and didn’t know if I did something wrong,” Kristin said. “But my coach told me, ‘Kristin, you’ve been doing an amazing job as a first lieutenant, and we were wondering if you would be willing to move up your position to captain.’ I had no words. It meant so much to me knowing my coaches saw my potential.”

Becoming captain as a junior was an incredible achievement for Kristin, but it also marked a historic milestone: she is CHS’s first African American cheer captain.

“When I stepped into the captain role, I asked my coaches if there had ever been an African American captain before,” Kristin said. “They thought about it for a moment and said, ‘No, I don’t think there has been,’ and I was just like, wow. It’s crazy, but it’s also a big accomplishment of mine, one that I will carry with me forever.”

Kristin’s achievement is a testament both to her resilience and her family. Since her father’s passing in 2009, they have continued to build upon his historic legacy.

“There is a lot of leadership in my family,” Kristin said. “Everything we do is to honor our dad’s legacy. I am so grateful to even say that I am the first African American cheer captain. My family is so strong and powerful, and I think this accomplishment resembles that.”

With unwavering support from her family, Kristin’s strength has allowed her to face every challenge head-on.

“When you go through a family tragedy like ours, support is the biggest thing,” Ms. Price said. “What makes me most proud of Kristin is her perseverance. She knows what she wants and goes after it relentlessly. She has taken everything from her father, her grandparents, William Price and Rochele Price, and I have instilled in her and truly believes the sky’s the limit.”

Continuing her captaincy into her senior year, Kristin is a guiding light for Coppell Cheer. Known affectionately as KP, she is always there for her team.

“You just know who we’re talking about when we say KP,” Sartin said. “Being a captain for two years in a row is an interesting situation, but she has learned how to work with different groups of people while keeping a smile on her face even when things get tough.”

Kristin has brought new beginnings, making history while leading Coppell Cheer to new heights. From witnessing the team’s transformation from placing 10th at the National Cheerleaders Association’s National Championship to leading them to first place in the 2024-25 season, she has proven that perseverance and leadership create lasting change.

“Breaking barriers isn’t easy, but it’s how real change happens,” Kristin said. “My role as captain is not only a position, but it’s a statement. It shows that African Americans belong in any space and that we can achieve anything we set our minds to.”

This story was originally published on Coppell Student Media on February 27, 2025.