NATCHEZ — Ashton Mason has officially been cheerleading since the third grade, but her introduction to the sport began earlier than that.

Ashton, a junior at ACCS, was following her mother, Leigh Anne Mason, around at cheering camps ever since Ashton was approximately 4. Over the Christmas holiday, Ashton will take a cheerleading trip to London — the same trip Leigh Anne took while she was a senior at ACCS.

Ashton made an All-American cheerleading squad at a cheer camp she attended. One of the featured trips is a trip to London to cheer in the New Year’s Eve parade. Ashton leaves Dec. 26 and will spend eight days overseas.

“I’m looking forward to seeing all the other girls and guys that will be there and seeing all I can see in the short amount of time I’m there,” Ashton said.

Leigh Anne said her she’s excited her daughter will be taking a trip that, according to Leigh Anne, is virtually identical to the one the elder Mason took in high school.

“I pulled down the pictures and showed her, and we think it’s the exact same trip,” Leigh Anne said. “They’ll be doing a cruise down the River Thames, just like I did.”

Leigh Anne said her best memory about the trip to London was the lasting friendships she made.

“I went with a girl from Natchez High named Stacy Lanehart,” Leigh Anne said. “We went to elementary and junior high together, but went to different high schools. I also ended up meeting my college roommate Jonna Robinson, who was from Bogue Chitto. She and I went to Co-Lin and Southern Miss together.”

Ashton said her mother was a cheerleading coach at Franklin County High School and several other schools in Ashton’s younger days, and her mother was a key figure in getting Ashton into cheerleading.

“I would always tag along,” Ashton said. “The main thing she taught me (about cheerleading) is no matter what, whether the team’s winning or losing, always have a smile on your face. Act like you want to be there, regardless of whether you actually do or not.”

And Leigh Anne said she was glad her daughter followed in her mother’s footsteps.

“I was hoping she’d take it on and love it like I did,” Leigh Anne said. “I have people telling me they still remember when I cheered, and others say she looks just like I did, because she smiles all the time.

“It’s funny, because my other daughter Shelby hates cheerleading, so it’s like they’re full-blown opposites.”

Ashton also plays softball, basketball and throws the discus and shot put for the ACCS track team. She said her two favorite sports are cheerleading and softball.

“I play all of the sports because I enjoy them, and a lot of my friends (participate) in sports, so I also play to keep up with them,” Ashton said.

But that doesn’t get in the way of grades, as Ashton currently has a 4.0 GPA and scored a 24 on the ACT.

“Mom and Dad make me make sure homework is done,” Ashton said. “I have to have all A’s, or I can’t play. Sometimes I won’t leave the school until 8 or 9 at night because of a game, but I always have to get my homework done before I can do anything else.”

Leigh Anne echoed her daughter, saying her children have to have at least a 90 average in school.

“The rule is, if you have a 90 or better, you can do whatever you want,” Leigh Anne said. “If your schoolwork starts slipping, that’s when you have to stop. It’s kind of been a rule forever.”

Although Ashton is mostly self-motivated with her schoolwork, she admitted there are times when her parents need to give her an extra push.

“It’s usually right when football is over and basketball begins, then again right before school gets out,” Ashton said.

With her trip to London less than a month away, Ashton said she was glad she’d be getting to experience the same trip her mother made. And being able to make the All-American squad at all was also huge for Ashton.

“I’ve tried out every year since the seventh grade, but it was my first time to make it at an away camp,” Ashton said. “I was kind of in shock and excited.”

Ashton’s father is Matt Mason.