Habersham Central High School senior Crystal Delugach officially signed with Berry College on Wednesday, surrounded by family, friends and Habersham Central cheerleading coach Claire Stevenson.
Delugach will continue her cheerleading career at Berry while pursuing a degree in animal sciences with plans to become a veterinarian.
For Delugach, the decision to attend Berry College began with academics and career goals before athletics entered the picture.
She said she first focused on finding a school that aligned with her future in veterinary medicine and later discovered the opportunity to continue cheering at the collegiate level.
“I’m forever grateful for the opportunities and memories Habersham Cheer gave me and beyond excited to begin my next chapter cheering at Berry College,” Delugach said.
Delugach’s cheerleading journey began at just 5 years old cheering for flag football, eventually growing into a standout student-athlete at Habersham Central.
Coach Claire Stevenson praised Delugach not only for her athletic ability, but also for her dedication in the classroom.
“Crystal is an exemplary student-athlete, having always put her academics first with rigorous AP and dual enrollment courses while balancing the demands of a basketball cheer schedule,” Stevenson said. “Her talents with cheer go beyond the court and Berry recognizes that. I’m thrilled for her to have this opportunity.”
Throughout her time at Habersham Central, Delugach balanced advanced academic coursework with the demands of cheerleading, a combination Stevenson said exemplifies the type of student-athlete colleges look for.
Now, Delugach prepares to take the next step both academically and athletically as she heads to Berry College this fall.
