Athlete of the Week: Becky Dechon, Foundation Academy cheer

“Fight Lions fight,” rang through ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Saturday, Jan. 31, and Sunday, Feb. 1, for UCA Nationals as Foundation Academy competitive cheer team made it through the semifinals to the finals. The team closed out its season with a No. 4 finish in the nation after finishing No. 2 in the state. 

Foundation has been at the top of the leaderboards in cheerleading in recent years. The team won Nationals and Worlds in 2024, and Worlds again in 2025. At the forefront of the success is junior Becky Dechon, whose dedication and spirit has been an important piece of the puzzle. 

What do you enjoy most about cheer?

I’ve always enjoyed making friends and how fun cheer is for me.

When did you start cheering, and why did you join?

I started cheer in 2015 because my sister was a cheerleader. I decided to join because of her.

What is your biggest accomplishment in cheer?

Winning states three times.

What has cheer taught you?

Cheer has taught me that being negative never is the right mindset and that staying positive will always help you and everyone around you do better.

How would you describe yourself as a teammate?

I would say I’m pretty funny to be around, but I’m also very determined to do well.

What advice would you give someone who just joined cheer?

Always do your best and work super hard, even when it’s difficult. Don’t focus on what makes it hard, focus on what makes it fun and always stay positive.

If you were a coach, what speech would you give the team?

If I were a coach, I would remind my team to stay calm and focused, because we’ve practiced these routines and know how to do them. I also would make sure we stay positive and believe in ourselves.

What is your pre-competition ritual?

I usually stand by myself and look to God to pray. I also circle up and pray with my team.

If you could pick a different sport, what would it be and why?

I don’t think I could ever leave cheer, but if I had to choose another sport, it would probably be volleyball, because it looks so fun, and I’ve always wanted to try it.

Who do you look up to the most?

I’ve always looked up to one of my coaches and my choreographer for Foundation Academy, Sandy. I’ve known her since I was little, and she’s always there to help me.

What is something new you would like to learn?

I’d like to learn anything and everything. I don’t have anything specific in mind — I just love learning new things.

Where would you want to live if you weren’t in Florida?

Somewhere in California. I love it so much, and every time I visit, I have an amazing time.

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

I probably would save it until I truly found something meaningful to spend it on, and I also would give some of it to my family.

What is your favorite holiday and why?

Halloween, because every year, my friends and I have so much fun together. It’s always the best holiday for me.

What future career do you want to have?

I would love to be a cosmetologist and do makeup.

If you became famous, what would it be for?

Probably cheer, because I’ve always wanted to do really big things in cheer, and being famous would be so cool.

If you had to pick a spirit animal, which would you choose?

This is hard, but I would probably choose an orange cat. Even though cats are pretty chill, they always have an energetic side to them.

What is your perfect day?

Waking up on a Saturday and having a concert later that night.

Would you rather only eat fruit or vegetables, and why?

Fruit, 100%. I’ve always loved fruit, and if you ever put a fruit tray in front of me, it would be gone in the next five minutes.