After cheering for one year, I decided to focus all my energy on soccer. I played on a National Women's Soccer team for 5 years after hanging up my DCC boots. My twin sister Sherie, my dearest friend in life, cheered for the next 2 years while I played soccer. She cheered me on while I was on the soccer field; I cheered her on while she danced for the Cowboys. Sherie has always been the fru fru twin, I have always been the tomboy, so hanging up my boots for soccer was not a hard decision. Growing up, everyone called her "Barbie" and I was "G.I. Jane"! You could always find me climbing trees or playing football, while she was designing Barbie clothes! We are still having fun together... I still call her Barbie and she still calls me G.I. Jane!

I majored in business at Tyler Jr. College and knew I wanted to be in sales. I became an independent sales rep shortly after my DCC days and started selling sports related items. My very first rep job was with the Thorlo Sock Company, then Kaepa tennis shoes, Arena Swimwear, and Dolphin Sportswear. After a few years of selling sports related items, I shifted gears and gravitated towards home décor. I picked up some very good lines and got my foot in the door at AAFES. I continued selling to the military and several other major department stores for over ten years, then decided it was time for a new adventure. I moved to Colorado where I purchased a historic, 10 bedroom home. I remodeled it and opened a B&B. My family thought I was crazy, being that I couldn't even cook! I learned how real fast! Before selling it, it was voted the "Best B&B in the Rocky Mountains"! I owned and operated it for 6 years, sold it, and moved back to Texas. I purchased another historic home in East Texas, remodeled it, and opened another B&B, where I met my husband, Hank.

Hank and I were married in 2004 and share an incredible life together. Hank and I have lake homes on Lake Fork in East Texas and at the Athens Fish & Game Lake near Athens, where we enjoy bass fishing and kayaking. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful man to share my life with. Hank is currently a supervisor for the Department of Public Safety (State Troopers) and was the first commander for the Texas Department of Public Safety's Dive Recovery Team. He has been in law enforcement for over 20 years and is well known and respected. I am so proud of him and all he has accomplished in his career of public service.

My precious daughter Katy is a Children's Pastor at Heartland Church in Dallas. I am extremely proud of her and her accomplishments. She is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University and has a heart for children. She is an awesome woman and touches so many children's lives each day. When Katy is not working with children, you can find her on the lake, bass fishing!

After selling the B&B in 2007, I started putting all my energy into photography, which has been my passion for many years. What once was a hobby has now turned into a business. I photograph subjects ranging from insects to weddings. I was a spokesperson for Texas Parks and Wildlife in 2002-2004, which was a tremendous honor, being that wildlife is my true passion. My husband and I travel all over the world photographing everything from Bald Eagles in Alaska to the Mayan Ruins in Mexico. We spent the month of April traveling to Bermuda, Scotland, Ireland, England, and France. Although I love photographing just about everything, I am most fascinated with bald eagles. You can view many of my photographs on my website: www.baldeaglephotography.us

I wish everyone the best that life has to offer!

Sideline Q & A

What was the most valuable lesson you learned?

Carrie: The most valuable lesson that I have learned is that there is a cheerleader inside each of us. We should utilize our "cheerleader within" to always "cheer" people on and build them up in whatever it is they are pursuing in their lives.

If you could have anything from when you were a cheerleader, what would it be?

Carrie: I would have to say that I am rich with memories from my DCC days and can't think of anything else I would rather have. I have tons of photos and memorabilia, including game day ticket stubs ($7.10), newspaper articles from all the games, letters from fans, paycheck stubs from performances (we were paid $80 for 1 game and 6 rehearsals), parking passes to Texas Stadium, and notes from Texie, to name a few.