Jeremy Lin averaged 17 points and six assists in the last two home games of his career, earning the Harvard co-captain Ivy Player of the Week. The league’s Rookie of the Week award went to teammate Brandyn Curry, who averaged 17.5 points and five assists over two nights.

But the most memorable performances on the hardwood of Lavietes Pavilion this weekend did not belong to either of them—or to any basketball player, for that matter.

During halftime and timeouts on Friday and Saturday night, the Harvard cheerleading squad quickly scrambled into formation at center court. Pom-poms and signs at the ready, each member wore a neat crimson uniform, a clean, white ‘H’ adorning the chest. The team launched into its carefully synchronized routines, perfected through hours and hours of practice.

Among the numerous owners of bright eyes and gleaming smiles, one stood out above the rest. She soared gracefully through the air and tumbled like a veteran, and her energy was infectious.

“She’s very talented, confident, and obviously, a very skilled flier,” says Allyson McGinty, a spotter in the stunt group. “I was really impressed.”

She had never practiced with the team before. Yet, on Saturday night, the student section devoted an entire chant to her.

Her name is Amya, and she’s nine years old.

GIVING BACK TO DEE

The national cheer circuit is a rough-and-tumble establishment. High-stakes competitions take place across the country in pressure-packed environments, to which Amya [pronounced Ah-Mye-Ah] Giger is no stranger.

Every weekend over the next four weeks, she’ll be traveling to events all over the South with her teammates from Rockstar Cheer. She’s a flier on two teams—the Eagles and the Smashing Pumpkins—both of which are 18-years-and-under squads.

The life of a top-level cheerleader becomes even more difficult when a classmate’s flu or a family member’s cold could lead to an extended stay in the hospital.

Such is the life of Amya, who has been battling tracheobronchomalacia, severe asthma, and a compromised immune system ever since she was about a year old.

According to her mother, Amya immediately fell victim to a case of double pneumonia at birth in June 2000.

A year later came the diagnosis of TBM, defined as a weakness of the tracheal and bronchial walls due to softening of the supporting cartilage. In other words, Amya’s windpipe is especially susceptible to collapse.

Equally as critical has been her weakened immune system. Amya must take care to avoid any sources of disease-causing particles, as a relatively common infection can easily attack her lungs and lead to severe pneumonia.