TRANSCRIPTION

Hey everybody and welcome back to Echoes of the Yard for our last episode. I'm your host Kendyl Terrel., a soccer player at Jackson State University. And this podcast is all about HBCUs. From the guests to the topics, the good and the bad, we're here to talk about it all. For the 16th episode, I'm joined by A'Lycia Moore who does acrobatics and tumbling at Morgan State. Wow, which is the only HBCU program in the country to do this. I give all applause to you. Tell me a bit about yourself. Give me some about your background, your upbringing, where you're from, some hobbies.

Oh yeah, I got you. Well, hey y'all. It's good to be here. I hope all is well with everyone that's listening. So I'm from Manchester, New Jersey, born in the Garden State. Fun fact, I love to garden. I love cooking. That's one of my hobbies. I went to culinary school. I love cooking. I love cooking. I love cooking. I love cooking. I love cooking. I was in high school, so I had the opportunity to do vocational school. And my sister did hair and makeup and my brother did like engineering a little bit. And I was like, I just had such a passion for cooking. And I did that. And that's one of my hobbies. I cook every single day. I'm obsessed with it. No, I love that you said that because I'm actually baking. I started this, my own company called Kenny's Creations. And I literally love to bake. So hey, if you ever want to, you know, get together, open up a restaurant.

I like a collaboration. I love the collaboration. Tell me about your family though.

My family... Oh, wow. The family tree. I miss them so much. But, um, so my mom and my dad are from New Jersey. My dad is from Manchester and my mom was from Lakewood, which they're 15 minutes apart. And then they decided to have a sister, Danae, Damian, Aaliyah, and then I'm the baby, you know, the last of an era.

I'm the baby of 4. Yes. Oh my gosh. Come on, twin. Come on.

Come on, twin. But my sister, Aaliyah Moore, went to Monmouth University, full ride for soccer. And she really is my biggest inspiration because she showed me what it looked like to like have faith without seeing. And her walk of life, like she tore her Achilles. I tore my Achilles. She had a comeback story. I have a comeback story. So it's really like all my siblings have like all that. Like they have so many good qualities that make me a better person. So that's really my background, my family.

So did you always like have a cheer background? Yes. I've been cheering for like 17 years. Wow. And how old are you? 20. Oh, so since you were three, that's actually so cute. So why, why did you get into acrobatics and tumbling? Um, to be honest, the scholarship money at first, I always told myself I would never, I was humble and dead mad. I don't want to get injured. And there was a time in my life where I tore my labor on my shoulder, my freshman year of college.

And I was on the all-star team, World Cup All Stars. And that's where my career really shifted. That's where like being famous in the cheer industry and being a impact to everyone really started. And I was supposed to go to Felician University, which is up North in New Jersey. And the offer was great. Like it was cool, but I knew God had a bigger calling for me personally. And I had my surgery and my teammate that I knew from World Cup signed to Morgan for the first historical black college acro team. Come on. So she's texting me. I said, 'don't make me transfer.' I was already in the portal to transfer. So then Regina Smith, the head coach called me and literally it was like, 'Hey, come down to Baltimore.' I went with my family in a sling and the energy and the dream, like anyone that has a dream that speaks about it.

I'm interested because I have a dream too. Hearing her morals, her values in the dream and seeing what she saw in me was like, yeah, I'm in, I'm here. So, yeah. So did you always want to attend an HBCU? No, I never even thought about it. Never thought, but I came from a predominantly white area where that's all I knew. And I would definitely say it was a culture shock. Like I came here, I was just like, I'm Alicia, I'm here. But like, I had to develop and learn myself. And that's what I would say I love about HBCUs is that you get to really be in the real world. Because, in my area where I'm from Manchester, New Jersey, like I'm usually the only black on the team or there's none.

So it was just like different having like a sisterhood of African-American women that had the same dreams, same morals. But then you also got to think about personalities. How do those match? So, yeah. So did like, like did the decision to go to Morgan State feel like it was made for you since it's like the only one in the HBCU program? A hundred percent. I was just like, I heard so much great things about it. I was like, I'm going to go to Morgan State. But then I was even just thinking about my athletic career. I was thinking about my education. Like I went, I'm a multimedia platform production major and I want to be in that industry. They're one of the best, they have the best media team, like in the MEAC.

Everyone looks at Morgan, always like, what's their next step? So it was really a business move after that. So you mentioned like being like one of the only ones or like not even having one on a team. Like I definitely can relate to you on that because I play soccer. I'm in a predominantly white sport. Um, I definitely like went to three different colleges. Like Jackson State is my third, it's my third year here and I'm experienced going to PWIs. And I just want to like, what, what was it like to realize that you, you were the one that only stood out because you were athletic, the only one to stand out because you were different. Like people knew you because you were basically the oddball. Like for me, I'm really tall.

Like I'm 6'2" people always think I play volleyball or basketball. So like to be a soccer player, I'm like, I'm going to be a soccer player. It's like, it's like my voice. It's like being able to show other African-American women that even though this wasn't built for us, we're going to make it into what it will forever be. So like, that's how I look at it. So what was it for you that made you like, okay, like I have to do this for every other girl that don't think they can. It was bigger than me. That's what I was thinking. Like, I've always been like told, like, you're so mature, you're so developed. Like, thank you, God, that he put you in this position. Thank you, God, that he put that in me.

But it was bigger than me. It wasn't just about an opportunity to be on the first historical black college for acrobats. It was about what can you, what can people say about training that is so great? Like, what can you leave here? And how you change? A lot of people say, this is also like my biggest thing. It's like, oh, it's just the HBCU life. It's just an HBCU. And then, like, they complain about predominantly white schools having this, that, and the third. But then we're at an HBCU. It's just like, how come we can't have people that come from predominantly white schools impact? And I wouldn't, I wouldn't say change. I'm gonna say change today. Change everything we're complaining about.

So it was just like, I know that I have that leadership and I know I have, it's just in me. Like, I can't control it. So like, me coming here, I knew I was coming here to like, definitely leave an impact. Yeah. Choosing my HBCU, it was definitely a statement for me as well. Like, I, like, I say, choose my HBCU, but I feel as though my HBCU went, grabbed me and was like, 'You're supposed to be here.' Right. Like, it was like, it was like, 'Hey girl, we've been waiting for you to come here and make a statement.' Like, I, I definitely feel as though, like, when more black women realize like, coming to an HBCU is not like, oh, it's not easier because it's going to be hard as hell.

Like, I can't lie. I've gone through the worst shit of my life at my HBCU, but I would never change it. I would never change it. I got my car stolen. Come on. I've had problems at this school financially. I've been struggling. Come on. No housing. Let me be real with you. I'm going to be real. I'm very real. I feel like for HBCUs it's about, when it comes to sports, who's packing the stands, who's getting the most commotion, and who can they focus on? Where I feel like it really wasn't accepted that we were a real team. Like, a lot of people don't even know who, what acrobatics and tumbling is. And it wasn't broadcasted to its full potential, especially last year being the first all-girls team.

And this is our second year where I feel like this is honestly our first year because now people are like, oh, acro, this, this, or that. You should have been on that time where we were. So I feel like at our HBCU, if we're not football, basketball, or track, a man-dominated sport, or they take them more serious than the women that should be more respected. Exactly. It's like, of course we're going to be in your ear. Of course we're going to be saying this. Of course we're going to be on your tail. Because it's like, no. Like, we are more, I wouldn't say we're more important, but this sport, first of all, Morgan State is a MEAC school. We compete in the NCATA. No one else does. No one else does that.

No one else does that. And it's the first historical Black college in the world. Yeah. Like, and you, oh my gosh, you say that. And it's just so crazy how, like, we are living two different lives. But I feel as though we kind of have the same story in the sense, my first year at Jackson State, we won it all. We won the SWAG championship. We won the regular season. We went, we went and we got that thing. And it's like, we were celebrating for one or two days. Boom. We were forgotten. Like, it was just, it was like, congratulations. You, you finally won a SWAG championship in the first time for nine years, but okay. It doesn't matter. We're on to the next.

And I feel as though, um, when we achieved that, it's just like the appreciation is so different because like we were the first women's team to actually take that SWAC championship that year. And it was like, it was so surreal. Like, I can't lie. I'm not really a big crier, but when that whistle was blown, oh my God, like tears just started flowing because it was like, it's so much bigger. Like it's so much bigger than just me and my teammates and my coach. Like it's for every single, it's for me when I didn't think I had a voice, when people labeled me as an aggressor on a predominantly white sport, just because I cared more. My passion was mistaken for anger. Yes. Oh, I had it. I know you've experienced it.

I know you've experienced your passion get misinterpreted by so many people. And like, I just, that feeling of that moment is just like, we're here. We've been here and like, we, we deserve to be heard. So how would you rate your overall experience at Morgan? As a student, as a student, one, two, three, we'll get to Adley as a student. As a student. Can I rate this year? Like so far? Yeah. Yeah. I'd rate it an eight. I have to rate it an eight. I rate it an eight because academically I'm eating them up. Like I'm so good at it. I'm no crumbs left. Like it's so much easier this semester because I'm more established and I know exactly what I'm doing. Like I have a plan.

And when I'm in the classroom, the reason why I rated it eight is because I'm vocal. I'm myself and I'm applying everything I learned in the outside world. And I'm so good at it. And I'm so good at it. And I'm so good about it because I'm so good at it. And I'm so good at it. And I'm so good at it. And I'm so good inside the classroom, not just on the mat. Like a lot of student athletes only focus on the field, the track or the mat. What's going to happen when it's gone? Like I tore my Achilles last semester. Like I came in here hot and ready, like, oh, we're going to see, like, we about to do this, this, this. Tore my labrum, recovered from that, got back, tore my Achilles.

So I had to think about a different plan. I had to be like, all right, A'Lycia, this is the reality. You have an extra red shirt year. You'll be back next year, but what are you going to do now? Yeah. I'm ready. And, eight, because, like, I'm really locked in, yeah, and I love that, because I messed up my knee, I was out for nine months, I had surgery on it, and like just hearing you say, like, you have to find your identity outside your sport is so important because I feel as though that's why a lot of student athletes struggle with mental health nowadays is because, like, for a long time their sport

is who they are but that's not it like if your sport isn't who you are, you make your sport like every time you step on that field they remember who you are not that you're playing soccer like it's or um doing your sport or doing whatever you're doing like and identity is so important I'm so glad you dabbled into that but how would you rate your overall experience at Morgan State as an athlete though as an athlete ah it's like it's different maybe I'm gonna give it an eight I'm gonna give it an eight okay, okay, yeah we got two eights we're making 16 now we even yeah so why would you rate it an eight?

Because, like, I don't know I notice within myself I get different respect from other People in athletics where other people don't receive that, and they talk about it with me, and I can't believe so I give it an eight because everyone I work with is their intentions are pure, they're fun, they're caring, and they're passionate, and they don't want anything else but success, so that's why I rated an eight. And it could be a 10, but not until I get that championship, yeah. oh, 100, 100. It definitely, it definitely gives you like a different appreciation for it once you finally win it and once you finally get to say like, no, like we did this, you know what I'm saying. But how have you grown as an athlete since your college sports career?

Oh I've grown a lot. I feel like everyone expects, like, when people see me as an athlete, I'm like, they just think my life is just this, but it really, it really isn't like that, yeah. Up and down, up and down, yeah. Like, overall would you repeat that question one more time? How have you grown as an athlete since beginning your college sports career? I had to watch film and I had to do my history, like I had to go back and it actually started for me, um, doing a project on my coach because she was one of the founders of acrobats and tumbling, like the name, and I wanted to call it, um, stunt, not stunt and tumble, it was some name, and she was like, 'Ah, come on.' First, in the alphabet, how about acro and tumbling so it started with the knowledge of that history,

how serious I was about it, like there were times since I tore my Achilles I had so much time I would watch meets until like three in the morning, I'll wake up, I'm writing stuff down like studying, like right now, presently. I'm so ahead of my recovery period where I'm getting skills that I shouldn't have for another like four months, I shouldn't be doing the stuff I'm doing but I feel fine, like there's some pains, but I've grown also in being a teammate and it's different here, like where I was originally from, you know I was a captain. had to be on top, and I had to say certain things. And also your coaches would look at you because you're the only black girl or the third black girl on the team, they expect you; they look at you like,

'And then you have no option but to do it.' But here I didn't have to like I feel like just being yourself and just scouting and reading the room is where I've grown as like an athlete. I love that. And you mentioned you mentioned growing as a teammate and one thing I can relate to is growing as a teammate. Like um I've mentioned before in one of the episodes that I lost my dad when I was 15 and it genuinely changed my perspective on Life is about people, and I think I built this wall because trust was a very hard thing for me. But um, the people that I've met here and that stayed when I pushed and pushed and pushed, like I'll be forever grateful for.

Like I have some teammates on my team, Harper Bennett, Olivia Cobb, Rebecca James, and I'm shouting them out because like they stayed when I pushed and pushed and pushed, like they were like 'We're not going anywhere,' and um, just them staying for me and telling me that I'm someone one worth fighting for, and my coach, like believing in me and knowing the grieving process it takes time and like, yes, you're angry but we're here to accept you good bad and ugly like I had to develop as a teammate as well I was like oh wow like people can care about you people can care about you through your worst and your best times like

it's not all about your sport and like for you to express that and say like I'm not the only one grown as a teammate like it means so much because for a while I thought I was alone and like just going into my fifth year it's just been so hard it's been so hard to find that passion and that determination to keep going um and for you to come back after your injury and be like f that injury I'm coming back even better than I was before it's Amazing, and like that just shows that what separates you from average to adult is that you either kill or kill be killed and like that's how I go about life.

You like come on, I grew up in a household where like my well, my dad used to box, my mom used to bowl, and my mom used to do every sport back in the day, and we were always active growing up. Like, I always was doing I did bowling, track, gymnastics, cheer, all of it, and same things for my siblings. And I remember this one time, I was trying to learn how to play basketball, my brother, and I was trying to guard like, and he was like 'Alicia, you do that again,' I'm running over like it's football. and that day it was hilarious the video I still have the video to this day it's, funny I'm gonna need that video that was crazy oh yeah girl I got you I'm gonna send it to you but like after watching the video that started that killed or be killed mindset like the thrill of the hunt and also being a world cup and being a captain and a leader and a role model that was the that was the atmosphere like there was no you mediocrity was never in like never you could never like if you were to even think to go half way you're out so like I had to figure that out here as a teammate also being uncomfortable with not being comfortable like I had to understand that like I had to put myself in situations where I had to communicate with my team like hey, I need to work on my deliverance and I need to work on my demeanor because I keep my face gonna say before I oh I know that it could affect you so like I like me communicating is better than me saying quiet no I had to learn that yeah I definitely I definitely agree with that see like me like walking away and like not blowing up because like oh my gosh my tongue is very sharp and it's just kind of like I'll just say exactly what comes to my head and I just won't care so like me walking away and then being like hey like this is where I messed up on and I'm gonna work on like being better as a teammate.

So what should people know acrobatics and tumbling as a sport?

Hmm I would say what should they know about acrobatics and tumbling that acrobatics and tumbling is going to change this year moving forward ever since we stepped foot into the sport um if you look back at the history of acrobatics and tumbling Baylor University has I believe nine or ten titles undefeated when it comes to nationals and when we started um the acrobatics and tumbling team they recruited more of a lot of people and they recruited more black people they recorded my they try to become more Diverse, yeah, so just to know that it's going to be competitive and to know that these girls are locked in like I don't think I can pick a football player off Morgan State's football team and be like 'come do this', like yeah I need you to.

I need people to know that if you're doing this sport, you have to have guts, confidence, and a passion, and you have to be strong, and you have to be confident, and you have to be selfless because if you're leading a two-minute-and-thirty-second routine, you're going fast pace sometimes you can get away with being sloppy sometimes you can get away with not sticking your tumbling. Where in Acro, everything's seen, there's six categories to the meet where you're doing the same thing as your other competitor who's doing it better. So just to really like if you're interested to really learn about it, like look it up watch a meet like show up to a meet you never know like it's actually really interesting once you get involved. No I love that you said that and uh you were talking about you basically like you have to get out there and you have to want it um my coach said this thing all the time you have to want to be able to struggle, you have to struggle and you have to suffer through through your sport you know you're Really committed when you're able to suffer for your teammates, and like I'm already knowing because I don't know if gymnastics and acrobatics and tumbling are kind of on the same level. Well, man, them girls I'd be like, 'I give all my praise' because I'm like, 'There's no way, there's no way, like I don't know if I can do it.' I don't know if I can do it; I don't know, like how y'all be bending and like turning and flipping.

I'm like yeah, like even a football player today in physical therapy, I was getting my I um my right Achilles is like a little sore right now, and I tore my left one.' He was like, 'Like what does cupping do,' and I was telling You know what cupping does, and he was like, 'How do you go out there and still do what you do?' I was like, 'Fear who? Who should I fear? Yeah, like who should I be afraid of?' And then um our like our hashtag this year is faith over fear #FOF25, and that sets the tone right there when you walk in. Like, I never experienced well for one. Our practices are 6 a.m. Oh come on now y'all! I was up bright early this morning, 6 a.m.

I'd be up at 5 a.m., so like they wake me up every morning. The way that we interact with each other and it's just like it's beautiful to watch. Like, I recommend like if you just want to watch a practice or anything, pop in. There's so much Energy and there's so much love there, even though it's like I feel like we're like I wouldn't say dying; we're like freaking out of breath; we're sweating; we're falling to the floor; we're laughing about it but it's really enjoyable; it's really like why would you not do what you love even if it scares you? Yeah, you have to like push yourself. I know I love that so what's the misconception people have that you can do anything without warming up?

You have to train yourself, like mind and memory, like for me, like cheering and doing gymnastics, acrobatics, and tumbling is a mixture of both; like you have some gymnastics and you have cheerleaders. And then, you also my teammates are cheerleaders, um, gymnasts, power tumblers all that so dang can you repeat the question one more time? Yeah, what's, what's a misconception people have about your sport? Yeah, like you really have to have a background in it and if you don't have a background in it, you can learn. But you have to be willing to learn. Okay, if you don't have an open mind to it, it's not gonna happen. And if you don't believe in it before, like you think you can see it, it's not gonna happen.

If you can feel it and just trust yourself and trust your teammates trust is a big thing with acro, like I need to know you're gonna catch me because I'm 12 feet in the air, twisting upside down, not seeing where I'm going. Need to have faith. And a lot of people think that they can just jump in and just do it, like learn piece by piece, and be open. Progress is better than nothing. Oh, I like that! Like one percent better every day, like yeah, 0.002 is still improvement. Like that's what I have to tell myself to keep myself alive. Like you did this shot well, so you're fine. You know what I'm saying? So like, um, it's fair to say it's like not the most popular sport.

What is the biggest challenge that comes with doing an underrepresented sport that people don't think it's a sport? Because they try to compare it to, like, all-star cheerleading and stuff, like, 'Oh, it's not a sport.' I grew up my whole life defending, like, 'Yes, we are a sport.' Like, yeah, but it's like, I don't even have to prove anything to you because can you do what I do? And that can sound very blunt and that can sound very straightforward, but it's like, no, I'm not playing with you; I meant what I said. It's a different type of grit, a different type of like earth to do what you do. So, yeah, because a lot of people, a lot of people say in soccer is just, you put a ball down and you run and you try to put the ball in the back of the net; I was like, okay, come do.

it oh no come on show me something show me something so like nah like i definitely get it um what advice do you have for those who partake in an underrepresented sport my advice is to trust yourself and trust what you stand for because you don't need everyone's opinion sometimes it's better to have a small village than a big village there's too many people that want to be in your ear and give you an input but it really isn't necessary like and when you hear people like try to diminish your sport sometimes you just got to give them grace and be like it's okay yeah because if you get yourself worked yeah if you get yourself worked Up that's when the enemy starts to get in your ear and your head, and you start overthinking, and then you're like, 'Oh my god.'

Then that's when you believe it because if you're starting to think about it and then you say it out of your mouth, the power of the tongue is very powerful, so very powerful, yeah, um. So before I get to the last question, what is one thing you want people to know when they hear your name when they when they hear Alicia Moore? What do you want them to know about you, like, yeah, that's her; she's a fighter, one, one, one, like I had to fight you all my life, I had to fight, I had to fight to get here, but um, just to know that I'm Passionate, I love what I'm doing and that I will fight until the end, even if I'm injured.

And something that cheerleading taught me is that you fake it till you make it that could be a good thing or a bad thing, but just to know that I'm having fun and I'm not just doing this for myself. Like I'm looking at my niece who's Facetiming me to do a toe touch or a cartwheel, and knowing that she sees me in such a big position that I can't let her down, exactly yeah just being selfless, that's what I want people to know. Like when you see me perform, I'm gonna be on fire, yeah on fire, but it's really all God like it is, I just let go, like I can't. Do it like I can't think about people recording me or I. I can't think about, like oh what's this interview gonna be like?

You gotta be present, I'm very present, oh my gosh, like you, you genuinely have no idea every time I come on and have a conversation with other athletes, like I, like I take a bit of their story and I have to use against the user with mine because you saying you have to be present in the moment. I have been struggling this um season so far being present in the moment not putting pressure on my shoulders, like um I'm definitely like the type of person that like if I'm not performing well I let my team down and I forget like My why sometimes I forget my family is rooting for me back home. I forget that my teammates are looking up to me, just like, just have fun and remind them that the sport is supposed to be fun.

It's supposed to be a chance where you get to escape all the all the bad and all the drama and all the overwhelmingness and just be present in the moment. And for you to say that, man, I don't think you even understand. I've needed that. I feel as though like I've just been put myself under so much pressure. So thank you so much for saying that. Literally, you have no idea. Okay, our last question is presented by our sponsor Cricket Wireless. Shout out to Cricket, a proud supporter of HBCU culture and community. We love how is going to an HBCU; it influenced the person you are today, oh yeah! It influenced my style, my standards. Like once you start growing up, and you realize that dang like I really didn't even know nothing for real.

And then you get to this HBCU, and you meet so many walks of life. It softens your heart. Going to an HBCU, I don't regret it at all! I love Morgan State. Um, are there things that could be fixed in Morgan State? 100%! It could be fixed with every single thing in this in the United States, you know. We're probably still working on that. But um, just to know when you go to HBCU that you will find your people or they will find you yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah you start walking a little different yeah like the networking like it's just like it's everywhere everyone wants to win everyone wants to also collab but I also would say when you're collabing you're networking with people be open to something you never thought about because most of the stuff like even the mentorship that I have now all started from being at this hbcu knowing the right people being myself and now Arielle Chambers is my mentor. yeah the olympics come on like the Opportunity, there's so many opportunities at HBCU that a lot of people don't see because they're not reading emails and that's not the right people or they're not really standing on business and it's there if closed mouths don't get fed. Come on, closed mouths don't get fed. So I, I really, I don't regret this decision at all, literally you keep leaving me speechless.

But thank you so much for joining me, sharing your experiences with us. I just want listeners to know that like your story is going to be one that people are going to remember and I cannot wait for them to hear. Listeners, thanks for tuning in. We're saying goodbye with our last episode of Season One, but tune in for more! Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe so you don't miss out on more Echoes of the Yard. Bye, y'all!