Spirit Spotlight

LARAMIE -- Each week, 7220sports.com photographer, DJ Johnson, highlights a member of the University of Wyoming Spirit squad.

This week …

Andrew Paniagua
Los Angeles, CA/Longmont, CO
Senior
Criminal Justice/Psychology

Q: What is your favorite part of being a member of the University of Wyoming’s Spirit Squad?
A: My favorite thing about being on the squad is all of the people around. I definitely love all of my teammates, and being her for five years, they’ve become like a second family to me.  

Q: Having grown up in Colorado, you’re pretty familiar with bigger towns. Having lived in Laramie for the past five years, what is one thing you absolutely love about the town?
A: Again, the people in Laramie are amazing. Since I have lived here, I have never had a bad experience with anyone, and everyone here is so kind …they do things like hold doors open for one another and they always ask how are you doing or how have you been.

Q: The Spirit Squad supports a lot of different sports for the University of Wyoming, and I know they’re all important; however, if you had to pick one sport as your favorite, what would it be?
A: Oh man, that’s going to be really tough … but if I had to pick, I’d have to go with basketball, both men’s and women’s. Those programs always treat us so well, and the coaches often give us shout-outs and always feel the love coming from those guys. Also, there’s so much energy coming out of the ‘Double A’, and we as a team feed off of that and it just makes game day way more memorable.

Q: If there’s one thing that people my find surprising about you, what would it be?
A: A lot of people aren’t aware that when I first started cheering, I struggled with my self-confidence and self-esteem. During these past five years I have worked on overcoming both of those, and thanks to everyone around me I was able to overcome my fears. So given that, I’d like to thank all of my friends and teammates, and especially my roommate, who have helped me overcome that obstacle and make me who I am.

Q: With graduation right around the corner, what is on the horizon for life after college?
A: I’m definitely going to be looking into getting accepted into a police academy and ultimately getting hired by a local law enforcement agency in the northern Colorado area.

Q: If I were to give you two plane tickets anywhere in the world, where would you go and who would you take?
A: The first place that I’d go would be Venice, Italy and I would take my mom. She has always wanted to go there, and I’d love to give her the opportunity to see that place.

My favorite food is: Sushi
My favorite professional athlete is: Kobe Bryant or Joe Montana
My favorite TV show is: The Office
My favorite quote is: "Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one" -- Bruce Lee
My favorite hobby is: Stunting
The one thing I can't live without: My bed
Do you know how to ride a horse? Yes
Do you know who Chancey Williams is? Yes