Spirit Squad | January 30, 2024

If one were to describe the University of South Carolina Aiken's Taryn Mazyck, the best phrase would be "a woman of many talents." She is a current member of the Spirit Squad who lives by improvement every day.
 
Mazyck is a 5' 4" sophomore who grew up mainly near Charleston, South Carolina. With her dad's side of the family being from Charleston and her mom's side of the family being from Baltimore, Maryland, there was no shortage of travel for Mazyck as a child.
 
The Spirit Squad star never let obstacles stop her from shining. Her dad was involved in a fatal car accident when she was younger, but this only motivated her to do more. "I just want to make him proud," said Mazyck. She also attended three different high schools, which she feels made her more prepared for new things.
 
Mazyck grew up practicing gymnastics, dance, cheer, softball, and even soccer for a year. Saying she was a multi-sport athlete is an understatement. She started having an interest in dance and cheer when she was only four years old. At six years old, she joined her first team. She also self-taught herself gymnastics at a young age and reached level seven.
 
USC Aiken was never the target school for Mazyck; it just happened to be the one she stumbled upon. She wanted to attend a smaller college, and USC Aiken fit that description. She was talking with a friend in her biology class about trying out for the team, and they both passed the physical. After that, the two made the team together.
 
To Mazyck, the Spirit Squad is way more than just cheering and dancing. The group does almost everything together, and she feels they are always there for each other. Team bonding is one of her favorite parts of the team, and she loves it when they impersonate each other. Her favorite memory is when the men's basketball team made it to the Sweet 16 in the 2022-23 season, and they got to support their fellow Pacers. 
 
Now that Mazyck is a sophomore, she feels that many of her teammates look up to her now. She said that the captain, Christian Reagin, is who she looks up to on the team. "I respect her so much and all she is able to do for us," said Mazyck.
 
"I want to be someone who is unrecognizable to myself; I want to be so proud of myself," said Mazyck. 
 
At the age of 11, she taught herself Korean. She studied French in high school and became the president of the French Club. She has also played the flute for nine years. 
 
After graduation, Mazyck wants to be available to help others. She was inspired to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist because of her strong desire to help children. She also wants to become involved in awareness of domestic violence, and she uses this as her motivation to becoming a possible therapist.