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This past July, Sharlee Sorensen passed away due to complications resulting from a car wreck. Her untimely absence has been felt in the lives of many that she touched.
“The first thing I think she ever said to me was, “Ya gotta fix your arms,” and then she just showed me how,” said Ella Eliason.
Sharlee loved cheerleading and helping people out wherever she could.
“She was always really happy to help anyone who was struggling with cheers–she was always helping them to better themselves,” said Ben Anderson the NS cheer team male coach and team member.
She wasn’t just known for her willingness to help others out with cheers and stunts, but also her overall ability to lift others up.
“She always had the best attitude about everything,” Eliason said. “I don’t think I ever saw her sad, and when you were sad she always tried to make you feel better, she cared more about others than herself.”
Sharlee radiated excitement and love to all that she saw, especially in times that others weren’t quite yet excited themselves.
“When she would walk into cheer she would ask us if we were excited,’ Marysa Lopez said. ‘I would be like for what?’ And she’d just say ‘I don’t know’, so then I would be like ‘yeah, I’m excited!’”
Even in her absence, her love has continued to live in the community and at NS. Many are paying tribute to Sharlee and the light that she shared with everyone.
“[In] everything we have done this year, we have decided our two themes are ‘For Sharlee’ and ‘Make it Count’,” Wilkey said. “We don’t know what we are given.”
Many have also poured tributes out to her through social media.
“We are indeed grateful to have had Sharlee in our lives, but sad they can now only be memories. It is hard to know what to say – but hope she knew how much she was loved, and boy was she loved. The world is a little darker without her. Love you Sharlee. We miss you already,” posted the NS cheer team on Facebook.
Not only the cheer team but several other teams have done their part in remembering and keeping her spirit alive.
“We made bows for the volleyball team,” Sydni Wilkey said. “One of our girls made these bracelets that has her name on it, we actually gave some to the football team cause they asked for those.”
The bows in particular hold a special place in the teams’ hearts, as they remind them of one of Sharlee’s little unique quirks.
“We made a bow with her name on it to wear at games, and she always hated high ponies, so whenever we wear that one it’s usually in a low pony,” Anderson said.
Many also remember another quirk of hers that resulted in lots of laughs and memories.
“I always loved that her and some of the other girls on the cheer team would talk in British accents,” Anderson said. “It was really funny and fun to watch that.”
Lots of love and care has been outstretched unto her family during this difficult time.
“I have kept in touch with the family and talked to them about what their needs are and how we can help. I think when something happens, you just want to do something–you just don’t know what to do,” Wilkey said. “I was really grateful for her mom and sister and brothers for allowing [the cheer team] to be a participant in the funeral and helping before the funeral.”
For anyone in need of help upon the loss of Sharlee, the counseling center and the safeUT app are available. Please reach out.
