There’s a certain amount of fearlessness to Aubrey Edge, and it shows in the sports she plays.
The South Effingham High junior holds the school record (9 feet, 9 inches) in the pole vault, perhaps the most difficult single-discipline event in track and field with its physical demands.
“And you have to not be scared to go over (the bar),” said Edge, who has cleared 10 feet in practice.
She also is a member of the Mustangs’ competitive cheerleading squad, which in February captured the GHSA Class 5A-6A Game Day State Championship under 
head coach Amanda Ramsey and assistant Cindy Henricks.
Edge might have done either sport in college, but then she got a very good offer for another sport which also plays into her aerial excellence and gymnastics background: acrobatics and tumbling.
Edge has verbally accepted a scholarship offer which came all the way from the other side of the country: the University of Oregon, which has the No. 2 team in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association rankings.
“I never saw it coming,” said her father, Kris Edge. “I’m excited for her, excited in the opportunity. She gets to see the country, go out West. It’s an opportunity to compete at the highest level.”
Not familiar with acrobatics and tumbling as a college sport? You’re not alone.
“It’s emerging,” Edge said. “Not many people know of it; nobody I’ve talked to.”
Edge said she was not aware of college scholarships in this sport until the summer of 2022, when informed by Alison McCarthy, then her coach with Cheer Savannah Allstars.
Edge watched a couple of videos of college competitions.
“I was like, ‘Wow, this is something I would do for sure,’ ” she recalled.
Edge is not afraid to try a sport, or in the case of track and field, compete in pole vault, shot put and the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relay teams. She does what she can to help the team.
“I love all sports, so I’d really do anything,” said the 5-foot-1 Edge. “I couldn’t probably be able to do basketball because I’m on the shorter side.”
Her athletic family likely is an inspiration for her mindset. Her older brother Kam was a baseball and football standout at Benedictine (Class of 2022) who signed to play football at Army in West Point, N.Y.
Their father, Kris, played outfield at Georgia (1999-2002) and still holds the program record for career walks (157).
“It’s in my blood,” Aubrey said of playing multiple sports. “It comes naturally.”
McCarthy had her fill out a questionnaire as a prospective recruit with the Oregon program, but Edge didn’t think much about it. Then the Ducks reached out to her.
Edge made an unofficial visit in March to Eugene, Oregon, paying her own way, as she did in visits to South Carolina schools Presbyterian in Clinton and Converse in Spartanburg.
Edge really liked the coaches, the team and the facilities. “I really felt at home,” she said. Then the weather changed in picturesque Eugene.
Photo (l-r): Ducks Acrobatics assistant coach Daisha Paulino, Aubrey Edge, Tumbling head coach Taylor Susnara
“It started raining then started snowing out of nowhere, then it was sunny. I was like, ‘Wow, I had four seasons in 30 minutes.’ ”
Not anything like at home in Guyton, but nothing to fear.
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of the Edge family
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Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. Dr. David Palmer is the team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!
