Lawrenceburg fifth grader in national athlete contest

(LAWRENCEBURG, Ind.) – A young Lawrenceburg athlete has advanced to the next round of a national competition. 

10-year-old Kendall Heard is a member of Greendale-based Prodigy Athletics and is a competitive dancer, cheerleader and gymnast. 

The Central Elementary fifth grader was part of Prodigy’s Junior Olympic team that earned a Level 4 gold medal in Iowa earlier this summer.

"Kendall competes on our highest-level competitive cheer and Hip Hop team, is in the gym every week working on tumbling, and is also on our highest-level competitive cheer team. She is constantly training, learning, and challenging herself in multiple areas of this sport,” said Prodigy owner Lauren Vasseur-Manzi.  

She has just been named a Quarter Finalist in the Colossal Youth Athlete of the Year competition. 

The winner of the online competition will be featured in Russell Wilson’s 3BRAND national advertising campaign on CBS and Sports Illustrated and will also receive $25,000. 

Kendall has advanced in the competition because of her athletic abilities and also her sportsmanship and compassion for others. 

She genuinely loves cheering on teammates and celebrating their victories as much as her own. 

“What makes me proudest of Kendall is the person she is. She has received Kindness Awards, is a huge cheerleader for others, and works hard in school to be an Academic Honors student,” a person who nominated her said. 

A few years ago, Kendall was recognized for her kindness because she would go out of her way to give hugs to classmates every morning as a second grader.

You can vote for her to advance to the Semi-Finals by clicking this link before 8 p.m. on October 8.

Kendall is currently in 1st place in the Quarter Finals and is hoping to get more votes from the community.