By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Michael and Susan Miller arrived on the campus of Millington Central High School to unfamiliar territory.
For the past few years, the parents of Cheyen Miller have visited spots at MCHS like the Performing Arts Center and Mooney Boswell Field to see their daughter cheer.
But on March 10, the Millers’ journey started in front of the main building.
“Today was my first time stepping into front office of the school since she was in eighth grade,” Susan said, “It just made my hear swell when everyone in the front office said, ‘We just love her.’”
The campus was cheering for Cheyen that day as she officially signed with The University of Memphis to join the cheer program.
“It’s a sad day,” Michael acknowledged. “To me it’s a sad day because she’s grown up. I knew the day would come. It’s my baby. The thing is I am just happy and extremely proud.
“The University of Memphis wants her, and I am extremely happy she picked a college close to home. At least if things break down I am close by,” he continued. “It’s more time and before I know it the four years for college will be up. Then it’s really going to be a hard day.”
Cheyen’s signing to Memphis was a long time coming when she started official cheerleading in elementary school.
“It’s a sport that I started at a very, very young age and always liked, I would say about the age of 3,” Cheyen said. “I liked tumbling and being up in the air. Cheerleading was the one that has stuck with me, kept me on my toes and interested me.
“It’s always been cheerleading,” she added. “I did try track for like a month. I was good at it, but not something I would want to continue.”
The Millers saw the potential in their daughter and quickly signed up to invest time and money into Cheyen’s passion.
Cheyen started with Youth Champions of America for a year and a half. Then it was time for Memphis Pride All-Stars. The family committed to the higher level of Memphis Pride with Cheyen taking on more competitions.
Her first year with Pride Cheer Sport, Cheyen was a champion. She moved quickly from Minis to Youth to Juniors.
In Cheyen’s first year at Junior Level 3, her team won Nationals. Eventually Cheyen improved so much that she was a member of Seniors Level 5 co-eds helping them win Worlds.
“To have her be on a Senior Level 5 team for all the years she’s been on, it’s a great source of pride,” Michael said. “The gym loves her. Coaches love her. There’s been several times she’s been asked to compete on another team. Without hesitation she goes ahead and does it.”
Cheyen brought her skills and knowledge to Trojan Cheer at school and helped Millington reach Nationals her freshman and sophomore years.
“I’ve given a couple of concussions, I’ve received a concussion,” Cheyen noted of the physical toll. “I’ve injured my growth plate and had to wear a cast for a while. Broken bones in my foot a couple of times. I’ve had my kneecap dislocated and a strained hip.”
All of Cheyen’s pain and sacrifices paid off with Memphis Head Coach Jasmine Darnell Freeman wanting her to be a part of the National champion program.
The Tiger Cheer program includes Spirit Squad, Dance, Cheer and the mascot Pouncer.
Miller will be at rallies, U of M appearances, and games. The cheerleaders have more than 100-plus performances each year. Tiger Cheer has more than 20 national championships.
“It proves to myself that all my hard work paid off in the end and all those cheers weren’t for nothing,” Miller said.
Michael said he had an idea early on that his daughter would land at a Division I spot.
“I knew when she was a freshman, we would go to college combines during the summer,” he recalled. “We had a lot of colleges that looked at her and her skills. To the point her sophomore year these college coaches they knew her by name. She must have done well enough during her freshman combine to get recognized.
“I am extremely proud she has mastered her craft as far as cheering,” Michael continued. “I am extremely excited to see what she’s going to do about earning her Nursing degree and what she does after college for the community.”
From the front University of Memphis Cheer coaches to the front office personnel of MCHS, Cheyen has made a positive impression. She plans ot leave her mark at the U of M just like she did at Millington earning a Class of 2026 Hall of Fame selection.
“It feels amazing because I like to think of myself as a nice and caring person,” she said. “For people to think the same thing is honestly an honor.
“I think it’s just what I learned from my parents in general,” Cheyen concluded. “They allowed me to have a very humble upbringing and allowed me to always know No. 1 be kind. Just always have a mindset to say what you want but never be disrespectful. It’s very much my parents raising me.”
