Cheer Mom Jessica

Hello, my name is Jessica and I am the "Team Mom" for my daughters' competition cheer teams on the west coast. My daughters have been cheering for 9 and 12 years and my oldest is at the highest level of competition cheer.  I'm a self proclaimed Pinterest Addict and use that to come up with the most awesome crafts and goody-bags for both of my daughters' cheer teams. This season I am excited to share some of my adventure with you as well as to hear the ideas you have used for your cheer teams.

Keep Crafting,
Jessica

JOURNEY TO THE SUMMIT -Hannah R.

                                                    JOURNEY TO THE SUMMIT

Introduction

      Hi! My name is Hannah Roney I am a freshman in high school and I am on a Small Senior 4.2 D2 called The Queen Bees from Kidsport Cheer Allstars located in Burlington, North Carolina. We are located right outside of Greensboro, NC and this will be my 5th season of allstar cheerleading. I've been with the same gym for all 5 seasons and I believe it has helped me grow a closer bond with my teammates and coaches.

ROAD TO SUMMIT

12/3/18

    My team has been practicing since about June of this year. We have had a couple setbacks like team members quitting, but we have not let that affect us. I'm going to be honest with y'all and not sugarcoat anything so you can see what it's really like. Our team didn't even start going full out until the week of our first competition. To be honest, I was kind of nervous about what we were going to be able to put out at the first competition, but let me tell you me and my "Queen Bees" rose to the occasion at our first competition. Our first comp was UCA Carolina Regional in Greensboro, NC. This competition was giving out 3 wildcard bids for each of the D1 Summit & the D2 Summit. There were 3 Teams (Including Us) in the senior 4.2. This comp was sort of a smaller comp so they didn't split up the D1 & D2 teams apart. We didn't let the fact that we were in a combined division get to us. We were going against some amazing teams!  We had a minor fall in the last second of the pyramid and a small legality deduction, but we still scored so high in difficulty and the other sections of the score sheet that it still allowed us to place high. When all was said and done,  we didn't receive a bid at the first comp but that didn't worry us because we know once you get all the jitters out at the first competition it will allow us to peak for our bigger comps coming up! Our next competition is this Saturday in Greensboro, NC again and it is the "Universal Spirit State Championships" this competition is also a bid competition  so the "Queen Bees" will have another shot for a bid to the Summit! 

 See y'all in my next entry. XOXO,
Hannah.

The Showcase 2018

     

Cheer Trixx

        As we enter the 2018-2019 cheer season you will notice that most gyms are participating in a pre-competition season performance. Whether it's called a show day, a showcase, or a performance day; it is designed to give teams a chance to get all their jitters out, give the coaches a chance to see what the routine looks like in person, and just give the cheerleaders a chance to get out there and perform in front of those who love and care about them! 

Fame Allstars

 If you have an Instagram account, I am sure you have seen plenty of posts from teams like the Cheer Trixx Athletics, Fame All-stars, and TopGun  Allstars who recently held showcase performances and they did a great job!

Top Gun

     Whether the gym is a large gym with multiple locations or a small location with only one  or two teams, It is just as important to get in that practice before your season starts.

 

     Last week we were at Tabb High School in Yorktown, Virginia. They were holding #TheShowcase2018 for several local gyms. The gyms that were in attendance were Genesis Cheer Xtreme, Full Force All-stars, Atlantic Coast Cheer, Richmond Twisters, and East Coast Extreme.  There were teams from tinies to senior level 5 in attendance.

Vendors

      When you walked into the venue there were vendors selling personalized clothing, cheer doll clothing, bows, makeup, nail products, and much more.
   
    Then you entered the gym. This was where  the DJ was set up, concessions were at , and the VIP viewing area for spectators was located.

Richmond Twisters

   All teams performed on a regulation floor. They had a parent dance off, a cheerleader jump off, and even a handstand contest. The audience was very supportive of all of the teams in attendance and the cheerleaders really appeared to enjoy themselves.

Jump Off Winner from
East Coast Extreme

   







 If you have  a gym wide event and you are interested in someone from Cheer4Today attending, feel free to direct message us on our Instagram account (Official_Cheer4Today ) and we will do our best to get back to  you quickly.

Atlantic Coast Cheer

ACC, Full Force All-Stars, Genesis Cheer Xtreme,

-Cheer4Today
     

   

**

Blogger Emily 11-9-18

      Hey everyone it’s Emily! My team’s first competition is next weekend!! It’s crazy how fast this has crept up on us. This week is going to be crazy with last minute changes, hard practices, and gaining confidence. As many of you are starting to compete this season, remember to go out on that mat and give it your ALL! The routine is 2 minutes and 30 seconds.. That’s less time than it takes to get out of bed, or to heat up your car. Don’t conserve energy or hold back, go out there and show everyone how amazing you are. You won’t regret it. Good Luck to all the teams competing this weekend and this season, go kill it!! 

Until next time, 
Emily.

50 Cheer Gyms... 50 States - Arizona Element Elite Cheer( 25 of 50)

The twenty-fifth gym I would like to introduce you to is Arizona Element Elite Cheer out of Peoria, AZ.

Owners/Cheer Director:
Dennis Chesney, Christine Chesney, Cassie Markham and Brian Markham

Coaches:

Preston Hittle, Rachel Warner, Nicole Chesney, Burt Johnson, Jameel Rayham, Haven Parish, Jordan Brown, Adrienne Whitlock, Katelin Aden, Lance Elliott, Jontae Francis, Jasmine Dickey, Alyssa Lemere

Colors: 

Tiffany/ Black and Silver. The team _

Years Opened:

5th year

What cheer competitions have you really enjoyed competing in the most?   

 PAC Battle of the Champions, Summit, and NCA Dallas

What championship or placement are you most proud of at your gym? 

We won the very first D2 Summit Large Senior 4

What is something you would like our readers to know about your gym? 

We train hard, we compete hard, but we also have a great time. We push perfection over progression and we take an active interest in all our athletes lives both inside the gym and outside the gym. Many of our athletes have been with us since we opened. We started in 2014 with 7 athletes and now have two locations, one in Peoria and another in Chandler. We now have over 175 Allstar athletes.

The website for this cheer gym is:

www.arizonaelementelite.com

Pictures:

 

Blogger Bella- 10-14-18

Hey guys! It’s me, Bella!!

    While my team is still preparing for competition, I know that some of you have already competed. I started wondering… does your team or gym do anything to help your team come together? Well, my gym certainly does!

     My team regularly has team bonding. This is something our team mom usually plans out for us. Going out to eat is one of the things we enjoy best because we LOVE food! We eat, talk and take TONS of pictures! If we can sneak away, we’ll often find a place to stunt (safely of course ;)).

    Last season we went to an escape room and this definitely gave us the opportunity to work together. It was kinda nerve wrecking, because we all wanted to win. Go figure, a bunch of competitive cheerleaders, and we ALL wanted to WIN. ;)  Then…. We took some more pictures!! If you can’t tell, we like taking pictures!

Our gym also has Big and Lil Sis events! This is my favorite thing to do. This year I was lucky enough to have two Littles, Kaitlyn and Ashton. I do my best to show them that I am positive and work hard for my team. Being a good role model is important! We do fun things like exchange little gifts, do dress up days together, and best of all…..cheer each other on at comps!! And every now and then 

I like to sneak them off to hang out with the “big girls”(With parent permission or course).  What’s the most AMAZING thing your gym does to build your team up?

Signing off,

Bella!

Cheer Camp of a Lifetime!

     Hello Guys, My name is Harlee and I had the most epic summer! I got the chance to go to a cheer camp in Pennsylvania called Camp Woodward. They have many different specialties you can go there for like, cheer, gymnastics, digital media, skateboarding, etc...  Of course I was there for cheer.

       I want to first tell you about where I stayed when I was there. They have cabins with lots of bunk beds, a bathroom area, and areas where we could put our bags and boxes.  When you first get there you get to choose the place you want to sleep. I like the top bunks. If you want to choose, you should get there early.   When I got to camp, I didn't know anyone in my cabin. The girls came from Cheer Athletics, Top Gun, Atlanta Jayhawks, and Cheersport Sharks of Canada. By the end we all became good friends. They were super nice also.

 

      Some of the coolest parts of the camp were having many opportunities to go to open gym, having a coffee house in the camp, getting to do arts & craft whenever you wanted, horse back riding, and the gift shop where you also buy snacks and hang out.  You also will be amazed how big Camp Woodward is! It's so big!

      If you think this camp sounds cool, you should check out their website and maybe I will see you there this summer.












https://www.campwoodward.com/

Thanks for reading,
-Harlee

Blogger Emily 10-13-2018

     Hey guys it’s Emily! Competition season is slowly approaching so that calls for very long and hard working practices. All of the work you’ve been putting in all summer is finally starting to show! Getting ready for competitions can be very difficult and exhausting. My team began going full out a few weeks ago, and let me tell you... we have a long way to go. The first full outs can be crazy and everything can fall apart, but don’t get discouraged by that. You’re going to have hard practices; practices where nothing seems to go right, but let those practices make you stronger. When you have a good practice, you’re getting more consistent. Having a terrible practice, and still being able to throw your tumbling or hit your stunts is what improves you. So the next time you’re having a bad day and feel like practice is awful, take a deep breath and tell yourself this is where you get stronger. 

Until next time, 
Emily! 

From Coach Mandi...

As we head in to competition season, here's a few reminders for athletes and parents:

1) The judges are scoring off of a pre-determined scoring rubric. There are pre-defined ranges of skill elements, mixed with the % of the team competing the skills, that determines a difficulty score.

2) Execution is critical. Doing a skill and executing a skill are two very different animals. One thing we hone in on is perfected execution. Everyone can "do" but can you do it well? Technique always wins out over difficulty. High range difficulty is only a 0.5 spread, but technique is a 1.5 spread. I'll take the 1.5 any day of the week over a 0.5. Sometimes you may "have" a skill that isn't choreographed due to the technique of the skill.

3) All routine positions are up for grabs. Just because you aren't in a spot now doesn't mean you won't be in November. Constant improvement is required. 110% every rep. Every stunt. Every pass. Every jump. Every motion. Earn your spot. Work hard outside of practice. Show up ready to show off your hard work.

4) Prepare for practice. Know your trouble areas and ask for help. Know your grips. Know your counts. Breathe your routine inside and out so that execution is the focus. .

5) Rely on your teammates. They are your sounding board, your family, your reliability, your rocks.

6) Admit to your faults so you can strengthen them. Let your strengths shine through and own your pieces of the routine.

7) Work on your stunting and jumps as much as you do your tumbling. We always see athletes in private lessons for tumbling, but what about your jumps and your stunts? Your stunts are technically worth more than your tumbling, but the focus on that area is less when athletes work outside of practice. Reps in stunts are CRITICAL. If you only practice in practice.....you know the rest.

Being on the outside or in the back of a formation does not translate to your abilities. Placement in a routine is often times dependent upon where you were in the section prior or where you'll be in the section after.

9) When you step on stage, you are a unit. A team. Not individuals. You all play a part of the puzzle.

FAITH in yourself and your teammates
FOCUS on your execution and technique
BELIEVE in the dream

-Mandi

Blogger Emily 9-12-2018

       Hello everyone, my name is Emily Yanok! I am currently on the Level Five All-girl Extra Small team at Ohio Valley All-stars. I am now a junior at Parkersburg South High School in West Virginia. I started competitive cheer when I was nine years old and have fallen in love with it over the past seven years. Although there has been many set backs in my cheering career, such as injuries or tough seasons, I always find myself coming back to this amazing sport. My favorite thing about All-star cheer is definitely the people in it. Most girls on my team go to different schools, so we only see each other in the gym or at competitions, but I’ve developed a special bond with each and every one of them making them feel like family. It is such an amazing thing to see everyone mature and grow throughout the years. My teammates have encouraged me to try new things and step out of my comfort zone which has ultimately made me such a better athlete. There’s nothing better than doing the sport you love surrounded by people you love. I am very excited to share my many stories and advice for this cheer season with all of you!

Until next time, 
Emily Yanok. 

Welcome Blogger Emily

Welcome to our newest blogger Emily from the Ohio Valley Allstars in Parkersburg, West Virginia

                                                                   

   

LOOKING FOR PICTURES OF OUR READERS....

A Cheer Dad's Perspective- September

It’s A New Season, It’s A New Day!  

            So when the last cheer season ended I never thought I would miss it as much as I did. This offseason has been pretty good. Our gym is currently revamping themselves and you can tell the differences. There is a new attitude, a new zeal around the gym right now. We are excited with anticipation about what this new season will bring. Personally, I am excited to see my daughter and my son compete. My son is now on Tiny Novice and my daughter is now on Youth level 1. This is new for both of them. Brady has never competed before. He was on an exhibition team last season and Sydney was in the mini prep division last season. For me, as a parent, I have enjoyed watching both of them grow as athletes. Brady has developed a pretty amazing cartwheel and a beautiful roundoff and as for Sydney, she is learning new skills every practice it seems.

            So now here we are preparing for our fifth season being a part of our gym. Some people have asked me if I was exhausted and wanted to do something else with my kids. Honestly, no I am not exhausted. I am actually more excited than ever for this season. I am not going to talk about winning bids and national championships. That is the very conversation that our gym has banned. I love the new direction that we have taken. We aren’t talking about winning golden tickets, winning jackets, or really winning at all. We are talking about giving 100% and being the best you can be! That’s the direction we are going. We want our athletes to work hard, but also have some fun. I believe fun is what was missing for a while. There were parents talking about winning and jackets as if that was all that mattered. Don’t get me wrong, jackets and bids are great and awesome, but if you aren’t enjoying what you are doing, what’s the point? You could tell last season that some of the athletes were miserable due to pressure of parents. So I love that our coaches this season stepped in and said the focus is going to be on enjoying themselves and revamping who we are.

            Like I’ve said before we are family at our gym. We are bringing that back. Yes, the coach wants them to win. Yes, the coaches want to have the best routines they can do and yes, they want to challenge the athletes to get out of their comfort zones. I think sometimes you need to take a step back and realize changes need to be made. That’s what our gym did. So a new attitude, a new direction, new uniforms, and even some new competitions are in our future. Honestly one of my favorite things I like to tell people when you enter a new season is that “old things have passed away, all things are made new.” (If anyone is interest as to where I got that from it is found in Second Corinthians 5:17)

            In closing I would like for all gyms to have a great season. I hope for newness and greatness for all of you this year. I want everyone to enjoy themselves. Whether it’s being an athlete or a parent of an athlete, this is gonna be a great season for us all!  Buckle up ladies and gents the wild ride has started. Enjoy it!

-Charles Michael 

Blogger Bryant - 9-7-2018

Hey everyone, it’s me again.

So an update since we last “spoke”, or rather I spoke and you kind of skimmed. We had a pretty hard practice, featuring that crazy woma- I mean Coach Meghan. I swear she’s trying to make us better, but every time I feel like I am about to die I look at her and she has a strange glint in her eye that scared me, as if she actually enjoyed watching me roll around our gym like The Blob. I woke up at 6:00am the next day for work and I swear.. I SWEAR for a second I thought I really was The Blob, because I told my body to move and instead it kind of jiggled and rolled out of bed onto the floor. I was walking through my office at work and my legs just stopped working. It made for an interesting sight for my manager when she walked out of her office and I was criss cross applesauce on the floor of the Riverboat Discovery massaging the cramp out of my thigh. 

A little vocabulary for all of the 30-45 year old moms reading this right now Tea started out as “The T” meaning the Truth and then later merged into the same meaning but spelled similar to the herbal drink. It opened up many idiomatic expressions relating to “the tea” such as spilling the tea which is gossiping. Anyways, there’s a little Tea in my gym right now about stunting, and specifically who is flying, and I am not really gonna get into it besides saying I'M OVER IT. Some people are upset that they aren’t flying, and all I have to say is that if you wanna get up there, arguing with the people that have the power to make that decision wont help you. Tensions are rising and I’m trying to dodge that bullet. 

Lastly we had choreography. Choreography was from 9:00am to 6:00pm but it was only one day. Honestly, it was a lot to learn but I didn’t feel NEARLY as exhausted as when Meghan pushes us, I mean really its more of a shove in front of a bus but tomato tamato. I really like all of my stunts and the tumbling pass is a little more unique than the default level two passes (front walkover round off backhand spring or round off two). The only thing I’m kind of sad about is that I don’t really do anything besides stunt even more during dance and usually I turn the show during dance so checks and balances I suppose. I can’t have it all. 

So in summary

• Don’t sit on the floor at work if you don’t want funny looks from co-workers
• Tea is the truth, the gossip, or the details while spilling tea is gossiping.
• Don’t make my gym owner mad because she is the only person crazier than my coach (really she’s a wildcard)
• You can’t have everything you want so just go with whatcha get

That’s all folks, and remember keep your tumbling tight and your flyers tighter. 

Loggin off

-Bryant 

Blogger Bella - 9-5-2018

     Guess What?????  It’s that time of the season! You guessed it, choreography camp is ready to strike! It is something that is favored or highly disliked. Personally I LOVE choreo! Today I am going to share with you some tips or tricks that help me get through the week.

    First, we should talk about jumps. Jumps are a very crucial part of the routine. Everyone wants to be the point person for jumps, but sadly not everyone can. One of the best things you can do is stretch to build your flexibility and leg strength. Find a cheer sister and you can help each other get better.

   Another tip is for tumble and it is super simple. The key words are WARM UP!!!! Get to choreo early and warm up those tumbling skills. Everyone can afford to polish their skills. PRACTICE…PRACTICE…PRACTICE!!   Once practice starts, you will look like a pro!

   

   Next is dance, which is one of my favorite parts of the routine. This is where you find out if you are Beyonce or just a block of cheese! The key is to make sure you are clean, sharp, and have good facials. If you don’t feel a little silly, you aren’t doing it right. If you can get it together, even a block of cheese can magically turn into a sassy pepper jack. J

   

   Last, but not least, stay positive! The spots you get during choreography might not be the same throughout the season. So don’t get down on yourself if you spend some time in the back of the routine. Good work ethic and some extra time in the gym will help.

  

     I hope these tips help you as much as they helped me and good luck!!!

Signing Off,

Bella

50 Cheer Gyms... 50 States - East Coast Extreme ( 24 of 50)

The twenty-fourth gym I would like to introduce you to is East Coast Extreme out of Powells Point, NC.

Owners/Cheer Director:

Summer Meads

Coaches:

Summer Meads Laura Branham

Colors: 

pink, blue, and white

Years Opened:

Opened in 2012

What cheer competitions have you really enjoyed competing in the most?   

 We enjoyed US FINALS an the D2 SUMMIT. We thought both had a great environment and the kids enjoyed their time competing and spending time together.

What championship or placement are you most proud of at your gym? 

 Our youth 1 had only 2 kids that had cheered before, the rest new and they went to US FINALS against 30 teams and placed 1st. The excitement on their faces will always be remembered!

What is something you would like our readers to know about your gym? 

Our gym started out with one small team and over the years we have grown to six teams and many undefeated seasons. Our gym has been a small family from the start and we will always keep that environment for everyone to feel like they belong. Our motto is teamwork makes the dream work because every kid matters.

The website for this cheer gym is:

eastcoastextreme.biz

Pictures: