Tag Archives: cheer

Events, Featured, Tips

Why is TVCC So Amazing?

Posted on by Steve Pawlyk
TVCC_cheer_team_in_action_at_NCA_championship
18
Jul
Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

By Steve Pawlyk

Published July 18, 2023

In the realm of cheerleading, an arena characterized by its intense energy, discipline, and passion, some institutions have carved a niche for themselves. Among them, the Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) cheer program stands tall. With a legacy of numerous National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) championships and an integral feature in the second season of Netflix’s ‘CHEER!’, the TVCC cheer program shines brighter than most. This article delves into the reasons that set TVCC apart, shaping it into a titan of collegiate cheerleading.

Storied Legacy and Celebrated Rivalry

The legacy of TVCC cheer is a tapestry of hard-won victories, relentless training, and an insatiable drive to excel. This program has consistently outshone other colleges with its unrelenting streak of NCA championships, positioning itself firmly in the cheerleading hall of fame. A significant portion of this illustrious history intertwines with the rise of its celebrated rival, Navarro College.

Navarro and TVCC have come to personify the zenith of junior college cheerleading, an exceptional feat considering the multitude of cheer programs nationwide. TVCC was the original powerhouse with its dominant victories in 1989, ’90, ’91, and ’93. When Monica Aldama took the helm of Navarro’s cheer team in 1995, the stage was set for a rivalry that would not only push the boundaries of the sport but also captivate audiences worldwide. The intense competition between the two, documented in Netflix’s ‘CHEER!’, has thrust both programs into the global spotlight, becoming the essence of collegiate cheerleading’s biggest battle.

TVCC_and_Navarro_College_rivalry_at_cheer_competition-ipp

High-Intensity Training and Exceptional Coaching

Key to the continuous success of the TVCC cheer program is its commitment to rigorous training regimens under the guidance of an experienced and devoted coaching staff. These coaches, including the dynamic Vontae Johnson who joined in 2017, leverage their vast industry experience to deliver innovative techniques, instill advanced safety precautions, and foster mental toughness in their athletes. This approach has led to the creation of teams that are not just athletically excellent but also capable of maintaining composure under high-pressure situations.

TVCC_cheerleaders_featured_in_Netflix_CHEER_show

Emphasis on Academic Excellence

While many cheer programs focus primarily on physical aptitude, TVCC cheer takes a more comprehensive approach. The program underscores the importance of strong academic performance alongside athletic prowess, promoting a balanced approach to success. This encourages athletes to excel not just on the cheer mat but also in the classroom, nurturing well-rounded individuals prepared to face any challenge.

Unwavering Community Support

TVCC’s cheer program flourishes with the backing of a community that truly supports and celebrates its athletes. From ardent fans to dedicated alumni, the TVCC community offers an unwavering support system that boosts team morale, motivation, and ultimately, performance.

Superior Facilities

TVCC is home to state-of-the-art cheer facilities that aid in honing the skills of its athletes. With top-notch equipment and amenities, the program provides a safe and effective training environment, reflecting its commitment to its athletes’ success.

Strong Emphasis on Teamwork

One of TVCC cheer’s unique aspects is its emphasis on teamwork and camaraderie. Beyond individual brilliance, the program nurtures a sense of unity among the cheer squad, resulting in performances where each routine is an impeccably coordinated spectacle.

All-Round Development

TVCC cheer’s commitment extends beyond the athletic realm, offering opportunities for comprehensive growth of its athletes. The program aids in developing leadership skills, work ethics, and emotional intelligence, ensuring that TVCC cheerleaders succeed not only on the cheer stage but also in their personal and professional lives.

The ‘CHEER!’ Spotlight

The TVCC cheer program’s excellence was brought to international attention through its feature in the second season of Netflix’s ‘CHEER!’. This worldwide exposure not only solidified TVCC’s position in the global cheerleading landscape but also offered an insightful behind-the-scenes look into the dedication and hard work that drives its success.

In essence, the TVCC cheer program sets the standard in cheerleading through its rich legacy, high-quality coaching, holistic approach to success, strong community backing, superior facilities, focus on teamwork, and commitment to comprehensive development. Its spotlight in Netflix’s ‘CHEER!’ and the riveting rivalry with Navarro College have only served to further enhance its reputation as a leading cheer program, setting the stage for exciting developments in the future.

Coach_Vontae_Johnson_guiding_TVCC_cheer_squad-ipp

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Events, Featured, Results

D2 Summit Results and Recap (Searchable)

Posted on by Brianna Lohr
D2 Cheerleading Results 2023
10
May
Brianna Lohr Cheer Coach Author

Brianna Lohr Cheer Coach Author

Brianna Lohr Cheer Coach Author

By Brianna Lohr

Published May 10, 2023

D2 Summit was buzzing on social media this past weekend! With the incredible routines and well run competition, D2 Summit outdid themselves this season!
d2-summit-results
Luxe Cheer, a loyal IPP Client, has WON the Senior Open 4 division at the D2 Summit! The Queens put out two top notch routines on the Summit floor! The pyramid was impressive!! Every athlete was being utilized and they performed a CLEAN pyramid section.
Northern Lights All Stars, from New Hampshire, has made program history coming home with their FIRST D2 Summit WIN in the Junior 3 Small B Division! Their incredible routine is packed with difficulty and creativity throughout the entire routine.
Let’s talk about Candy Elite All Stars, Now & Later! They came to Florida with a mission. They first competed at All Star Worlds at the Orange County Convention Center, placing first in the XSmall Senior 3 division, and following their win at ASW, they headed to D2 Summit where they took the top spot in Small Senior 3. Now & Later’s technique and timing was jaw dropping.
This gym and team is a must see!!

We cannot wait to see what these teams bring to Summit next season!!

Results are best viewed in landscape mode on mobile devices
landscape mode

D2 Summit 2023 Results

wdt_ID Rank Program Team Division IPP Client?
1 1 Star Athletics Junior Chrome J1 Small A
2 2 Rival Athletics Infinity J1 Small A
3 3 The Stingray All Stars Mango J1 Small A
4 1 Rain Athletics Crystal J1 Small B
5 2 Nor Cal Eite All Stars Athena J1 Small B
6 3 CheerForce Simi Valley Boulderz J1 Small B
7 1 Power House All Stars Godspeed J1 Medium
8 2 Cheer Extreme - Raleigh Lovespell J1 Medium
9 3 ICE Frost J1 Medium
10 1 Victory Vipers Lady Strikers S1 Small
11 2 The Stingray All Stars Falcon S1 Small
12 3 The California All Stars - Mesa Vogue S1 Small
13 1 California Pride Inferno S1 Medium
14 2 ATA Ignite S1 Medium
15 3 The California All Stars - San Marcos White Gold S1 Medium
16 1 Jessie Leigh Dance & Cheer Acadmeny Roar (England) L1 U16
17 2 Unity Allstars Lemon (England) L1 U16
18 3 Wildcats Cheerleader Leverkusen Wildcats J1 (Germany) L1 U16
19 1 Zodiac All Stars Shadow (England) L1 U18
20 2 Action Athletics AIM (Sweden) L1 U18
21 3 United Cheer Berlin Shining Legends (Germany) L1 U18
22 1 California Pride Eclipse J2 Small A
23 2 A-List Athletics Bling J2 Small A
24 3 Arizona Element Elite Rubiez J2 Small A
25 1 American Cheer Jr Blue J2 Small B
26 2 Twisters Typhoon J2 Small B
27 3 CheerForce Simi Valley Alcatraz J2 Small B
28 1 Cheer Express Allstars Red Reign J2 Medium
29 2 The California All Stars - San Marcos Reign J2 Medium
30 3 Diamond All Stars Sassycats J2 Medium
31 1 Woodlands Elite - Katy Admirals S2 Small
32 2 ATA Electric S2 Small
33 3 Louisiana Rebel All Stars Courage S2 Small
34 1 Nor Cal Elite AS - Sacramento Korra S2 Medium
35 2 Fame All Stars - VA Beach Sirens S2 Medium
36 3 Louisiana Cheer Force Scarlet S2 Medium
37 1 Cheer Extreme - Raleigh Frost L2 - U16
38 2 The Stingray AllStars Silver L2 - U16
39 3 Funabashi Cheerleading Skewes (Japan) L2 - U16
40 1 Jessie Leigh Dance & Cheer Acadmeny Wildcats (England) L2 - U18
41 2 The Stingray AllStars Obsidian L2 - U18
42 3 Premier Spirit Athletics Lavender Crush L2 - U18
43 1 ICE Blue Dynasty L2 Cheerabilities
44 1 Cheer Express Allstars Bombshells J3 Small A
45 2 World Elite Legacy J3 Small A
46 3 Prodigy All Stars Slate J3 Small A
47 1 California Pride Magnitude J3 Small B
48 2 The California All Stars - San Marcos J3 J3 Small B
49 3 All Star Revolution Conquer J3 Small B
50 1 All Star Revolution Liberty J3 Medium
51 2 ATA Lake Norman Helix J3 Medium
52 3 Diamonds All Stars Supermodels J3 Medium
53 1 Cheer Force San Diego Frenzy S3 Small
54 2 The Stingray AllStars Pink S3 Small
55 3 California Pride Blackout S3 Small
56 0 Program Team
57 1 The California All Stars -Livermore Pink S3 Medium
58 2 Stars Vipers San Antonio Fierce Boas S3 Medium
59 3 The Stingray AllStars Lime S3 Medium
60 1 Cheer Express Allstars Bomb Squad S3 Coed Small
61 2 Cheer Athletics - Pittsburgh IronCats S3 Coed Small
62 3 A-List Athletics Empire S3 Coed Small
63 1 Python All Stars Nova Pythons S3 Coed Medium
64 2 Nor Cal Elite All Stars Luna S3 Coed Medium
65 3 Cheer Extreme - Ralrigh Senior 3lite S3 Coed Medium
66 1 The California All Stars - Mesa Crush L3 - U16
67 2 CheerVille MJ Savage L3 - U16
68 3 Mitzutori Sports Club Polar Bear Black (Japan) L3 - U16
69 1 Setagaya Pinky's Pinky's Luster (Japan) L3 - U18
70 2 ATA Hydro L3 - U18
71 3 Flames Cheerleading Outblast (Canada) L3 - U18
72 1 ICE SnowED L3 - U18 Coed
73 2 Limelight Allstars Onyx (Canada) L3 - U18 Coed
74 1 Express Cheer Exceptional S4.2 Small YES
75 2 A-List Athletics Allure S4.2 Small
76 3 South Coast Cheer Blush S4.2 Small
77 1 The Stingray Allstars UV S4.2 Medium
78 2 East Celebrity Elite ECE Rebels S4.2 Medium
79 3 Cheer Central Suns Golden Girls S4.2 Medium
80 1 California Pride Blizzard S4.2 Coed Small
81 2 The California All Stars - Ontario Electric S4.2 Coed Small
82 3 iNFiNiTi Athletics Zodiac S4.2 Coed Small
83 1 Macs Allstar Cheer MACS SHADOW S4.2 Coed Medium
84 2 ATA Oxygen S4.2 Coed Medium
85 3 The Stingray All Stars Moonlight S4.2 Coed Medium
86 1 Rival Athletics Revenge J4 Small A
87 2 GymTyme Illinois Snap J4 Small A
88 3 ATA Lake Norman Solstice J4 Small A
89 1 California Pride Lava J4 Small B
90 2 South Coast Cheer Honey J4 Small B
91 3 Brandon All Stars Silver J4 Small B
92 1 The California All Stars - Livermore Covert J4 Medium
93 2 ICE Lady Rays J4 Medium
94 3 The California All Stars - Ontario Sable J4 Medium
95 1 Cheer Express Allstars Lady Camo S4 Small
96 2 South Coast Cheer Scarlet S4 Small
97 3 Rain Athletics Downpour S4 Small
98 1 Cheer Athletics - Plano Sassycats S4 Medium
99 2 LA All Stars Icons S4 Medium
100 3 Diamond All Stars Knockouts S4 Medium
101 1 South Bay Divas Blue Diamonds S4 Coed Small
102 2 Ultimate Athletics Lady Shade S4 Coed Small
103 3 Cheer Athletics St. Louis Boogie Cats S4 Coed Small
104 1 Top Gun All Stars 24k S4 Coed Medium
105 2 Cheer Extreme C4 BombSquad S4 Coed Medium
106 3 Tribe Athletics Flash S4 Coed Medium
107 1 Nor Cal Elite All Stars Cleopatra S4 Open
108 2 ICE In4ern0 S4 Open
109 3 Inspire Athletics Pink Ladies S4 Open
110 1 ICE Halo S4 Open Coed
111 2 A-List Athletics Showtime S4 Open Coed
112 3 Spirit Athletics Claw 4 S4 Open Coed
113 1 The California All Stars - Mesa Versace L4 - U16
114 2 All Star Revolution Pride L4 - U16
115 3 Fusion All Stars Fusion Rage L4 - U16
116 1 ACX Royal Jags L4 - U16 Coed
117 2 Louisiana Cheer Force Fire L4 - U16 Coed
118 3 ICE Rays L4 - U16 Coed
119 1 The California Allstars - San Marcos S4 L4 - U18
120 2 ATA Blue Crush L4 - U18
121 3 Cheer Athletics - Dallas Slay Cats L4 - U18
122 1 ATA Venom L4 - U18 Coed
123 2 National Stars Solstice L4 - U18 Coed
124 3 Top Gun All Stars Wrath L4 - U18 Coed
125 1 Showtime Elite Atlanta EnVogue L4 Int Open
126 2 Louisiana Cheer Force Twilight L4 Int Open
127 3 Cheer Extreme Open 4 L4 Int Open
128 1 Bullitt Athletics Rage L4 Int Open Coed
129 2 National Stars Halo L4 Int Open Coed
130 3 iNFiNiTi Athletics SteelX L4 Int Open Coed
131 1 South Coast Cheer Hush J5 Small
132 2 Woodlands Elite - Katy Jr. Ops J5 Small
133 3 Central Jersey All Stars Gunsmoke J5 Small
134 1 The Stingray All Stars Royal J5 Medium
135 2 Cheer Extreme Smack J5 Medium
136 3 Prodigy All Stars Spotlight J5 Medium
137 1 Cheer Athletics - Plano Furycats J5 Large
138 2 Macs Allstar Cheer MACS JUNIOR STARZ J5 Large
139 1 CheerForce San Diego Chaos J5 Small Coed
140 2 The California All Stars - Mesa J Wild J5 Small Coed
141 3 US Cheer Rebels Recon Rebels J5 Small Coed
142 1 Twist & Shout Edmond Heart J5 Large Coed
143 2 The California All Stars - Las Vegas J-Spades J5 Large Coed
144 3 ATA J5 Large Coed
145 1 GymTyme Illinois Twirl S5 Small
146 2 CheerVille MJ Phantom S5 Small
147 3 ICE Black ICE S5 Small
148 1 The Stingray All Stars Spice S5 Large
149 2 Pack Athletics Senior Spice S5 Large
150 3 Cheer Extreme - Raleigh Lady Venom S5 Large
151 1 Ultimate Athletics Dynasty S5 Small Coed
152 2 Rival Athletics Black Widow S5 Small Coed
153 2 The Stingray All Stars X-Rays S5 Small Coed
154 1 Twist & Shout Tulsa Exodus S5 Medium Coed
155 2 The Stingray All Stars G5 S5 Medium Coed
156 3 ICE Whiteout S5 Medium Coed
157 1 All Star Revolution Justice S5 Large Coed
158 2 Stars Vipers San Antonio Royal Cobras S5 Large Coed
159 3 ATA Fusion S5 Large Coed
160 1 ACE of Dothan Bravehawks S5 Open
161 2 Rock Solid All Stars Saviors S5 Open
162 3 Bay State All Stars - Woburn Bravo S5 Open
163 1 CheerVille HV Venom S5 Open Coed
164 2 iNFiNiTi Athletics Infared S5 Open Coed
165 3 Cheer Athletics - Columbus Hades S5 Open Coed
166 1 A-List Athletics Miss 6 J6 Small
167 2 East Celebrity Elite J-WOW J6 Small
168 3 Champion Cheer Sol6 J6 Small
169 1 The Stingray All Stars Green J6 Small Coed
170 2 Cheer Athletics - Plano Savage6 J6 Small Coed
171 3 Prodigy All Stars Moonlight J6 Small Coed
172 1 Cheer Athletics - Plano Jags J6 Large
173 1 Cheer Extreme - Raleigh SJX J6 Large Coed
Rank Program Team Division IPP Client?

Featured, Netflix CHEER

Daytona Part 2: If the Judges Disagree – Netflix CHEER! Episode 9 Recap

Posted on by IPP Music
22
Mar
Annemarie Arthurs Cheer Coach blog

Annemarie Arthurs Cheer Coach blog

By Annemarie Arthurs

Published March 22, 2022

Coach Vontae starts off by going over scores for day one. As the team reviews their performance, they see exactly what they need to do. Their routine has the potential to score a 99.9. Their day one score, with the deductions, came to a 96.02. These scores are telling Trinity that the judges want it to be them, and they are ready to give them a reason. 

Coach Monica is going over scores with Kailee. Their overall score with no deductions came to a 98.33. Monica knows the judges score more conservatively day one, and if you do well on day two, the scores typically go up. It is a very subjective sport, and she is prepared to work hard and review some sections. 

Here we go. Day two. 

Warmups have started and it’s time for both teams to get all their jitters out. As they head to the bandshell, Navarro and Trinity know exactly what they need to do. 

Trinity is up first! With a team chant backstage to get them excited, they are ready to take the floor! 

From the mouth of Coach Vontae:

Music. Is. On.

Standing fulls, hit. Stunts, hit. Dees running pass, HIT! OOOO I have goosebumps! Baskets, hit. Time for the pyramid….HIT! With the energy they brought to the routine and dance, it’s a HIT! LET’S GO!

Navarro knows they need to hit the best routine possible! The nerves are getting the best of them, but they need to not worry about the awards and show the judges everything they have worked so hard for.

WE CAN. WE WILL. WE MUST. 

Toe fulls, hit. Standing tumbling, hit. Sadly, there’s a stunt fall during stunt section. Running tumbling and pyramid HIT! 

After their performance, Gill is extremely upset about her stunt fall. They are trying to stay positive and reminding themselves that they were in a good spot after day one. 

Awards have finally arrived, and due to covid they did not take place live on the bandshell. Trinity is watching them from their hotel room, and Navarro is watching from a ballroom. Monica knows they got a .75 deduction and is trying to calculate what they could have got versus TVCC. 

Netflix Cheer! Season 2 Episode 9 Recap

Here is the moment we have all been waiting for, your 2021 NCA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS WITH A 98.2292…….TRINITY VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE! It’s time to celebrate and run to that beach!!! 

Featured, Netflix CHEER, News

Jerry Pleads Guilty

Posted on by Annemarie Arthurs
15
Feb
Annemarie Arthurs Cheer Coach blog

Annemarie Arthurs Cheer Coach blog

By Annemarie Arthurs

Published February 15, 2022

On February 10, 2022, Jerry Harris Attorneys released a statement that Jerry has pleaded guilty in his ongoing child pornography case. A little over a year ago he pled not guilty to all 7 of the felony charges that were brought against him in Chicago but has now pleaded guilty to two of those charges last week. Those two charges are soliciting child porn imagery and traveling over state lines with the intent to illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

This case has been ongoing since 2019, when the FBI received a complaint from two victims’ mother. On June 28th there will be a sentencing hearing, where he could face up to 50 years in prison. With the charges he has pled guilty to, the minimum is 5 years and maximum is 20 years and the judge has yet to decide on that.

Jerry’s lawyers want to make it clear that he does want to take responsibility for his actions.

Featured, Netflix CHEER

Netflix CHEER – Episode 2 Recap

Posted on by Annemarie Arthurs
25
Jan
Annemarie Arthurs Cheer Coach blog

Annemarie Arthurs Cheer Coach blog

By Annemarie Arthurs

Published January 25, 2022

Netflix Cheer Season 2 Episode 2

“We” is family. Getting to see where Coach Vontae and his family grew up gave us a whole new perspective of him. It shows us why he is how he is. He is tough, strong, powerful, and determined. He knew sports, mainly football and cheer, would lead him in the right direction in life.

He was ready to be recruited for football until one day he was asked to cheer, and that’s when Vontae joined Brandon All Stars, followed by a scholarship to college for cheer and the rest is history!

Back at Navarro, the athletes are participating in lots of signings, shows, and meeting with agents! Lexi, Morgan, Gabi, Jerry, and La’Darius have no time to breathe! 

Gabi has decided to come back to Navarro and while her and her team are super excited, it has sparked some nerves within the rookies potentially losing their spot on the mat!

TVCC has been practicing hard to gain new skills and score the 99 they have been dreaming of. They have a handful of third year athletes on the team and the coaches don’t want them to leave Trinity Valley without a ring on their finger. 

Halfway through episode two Gabi has finally returned to Navarro for her first practice! Choreography is about to begin with Dalston and it will start with a skills check. This is where the coaches and choreographers can see skills and decide where to properly place athletes in the routine to best showcase them!

Monica has built an incredible program and does not like to switch it up, so Dahlston is doing his best to keep it as similar as possible to previous years!

TVCC is also starting choreography, and shocking fans by hiring the old Navarro choreographer, Brad Vaughan! Like they say “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” so they brought in someone directly from Navarro’s past! 

As the episode comes to an end, TVCC and Navarro are getting ready for the basketball game against each other! Both teams want to show up and be better than the other! Both teams put on a show on the sidelines, and it ultimately ended with a TVCC win! 

cheer season 2 episode 2

Coach Vontae is ready to build a strong program and is determined to beat Navarro and prove to people that they are just as good, if not better! 

netflix cheer episode 3

Featured, News

Coach Monica Aldama of Netflix’ CHEER to be on Season 29 of Dancing with the Stars

Posted on by Steve Pawlyk
Monica Aldama Netflix Cheer Dancing with the Stars
02
Sep
Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

By Steve Pawlyk

Published September 2, 2020

Brush off your dancing shoes! It’s time to boogie.

There hasn’t been much good news circulating in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, but we’ve finally got something to cheer about! ABC has just revealed the much anticipated cast for season 29 of Dancing With The Stars. And let me tell you this season is about to be lit! The cheerleading community is going to get to see America’s favorite coach, Monica Aldama, on the big stage.




Monica Aldama Navarro Cheer Netflix NCA Winner Trophy

The world saw coach Monica rise to fame on the Netflix series “CHEER”. She, along with her amazing collegiate cheerleading squad, became an instant household name.  Her 25 years of collegiate coaching experience and 14 National Titles are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to coach Monica.  She is an inspiration to young women, has a powerful work ethic, she’s her athlete’s biggest fan and is an advocate for inclusion, diversity and equality both on and off the mat. Monica is a force to be reckoned with and truly deserving of all of her blessings.  She will be the perfect addition to the Dancing With The Stars cast.




It will be quite a sight to see coach Monica competing against the likes of Carol Baskin, star of Netflix’s “Joe Exotic” and owner of Big Cat Rescue. It will be the “big dawg” Monica versus “cool cat” Carol. Other stars include Chrishell Stause of TV’s “Selling Sunset”, GRAMMY award-winning rapper, Nelly and many more.  We will all be looking forward to parking ourselves on the coach for one more series starring coach Monica.  The global cheerleading community will be rooting for her when the season premieres live Monday September 14 at 8e/7c only on ABC!

Monica Aldama with Oprah

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images: https://www.instagram.com/monicaaldama/




Featured, News, Results

Netflix CHEER! Snatches 6 Emmy Nominations

Posted on by Steve Pawlyk
Netflix Cheer Navarro Emmy Nominations
30
Jul
Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

Steve Blog Circle

Byline Steve Pawlyk

By Steve Pawlyk

Published July 30, 2020

The Results are in…

The Results are in…

and Navarro Cheer just made mat! As of July 28, 2020 Netflix “CHEER” Snatches 6 Emmy nominations. Soon after airing in January 2020, the coaches and athletes became household names. 

Whether you were are cheerleader or not, you were on the edge of your seat waiting to see if Jerry was going to make mat or if Lexi was going to stay on the team or if Morgan was going to hit her elite stunt!  And of course we all wanted to be Gabi Butler!

The amazing docu-series shed light on an industry that is so deserving of the spotlight. We can all agree that cheer is an intensely competitive sport like no other. The combination of strength, agility, stamina and competitiveness shredded any preconceived notions that many viewers may have had about cheerleading. 

Navarro Cheer Netflix




Each episode of Netflix Cheer! grew more and more intense and made us all hopeful that we too could make mat so that we could experience the sense of accomplishment that the Navarro athletes felt when hitting a flawless routine. Although the season ended abruptly due to covid-19, it’s undeniable that Navarro College was about to capture another college national title adding to their mound of accolades.

Visit Netflix to relive the experience with your favorite Navarro Cheer athletes!

  • Outstanding cinematography for reality program
  • Outstanding directing for a reality program
  • Outstanding picture editing for an unstructured reality program
  • Outstanding unstructured reality program
  • Outstanding sound editing for a nonfiction or reality program (Single or Multi-camera)
  • Outstanding sound mixing for a nonfiction or reality program (Single or Multi-camera)  




Check out Navarro College’s 2019 Performance!

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Featured, Tips

All in or All Out: Letting Go and Moving Forward when a Kid Leaves your Gym

Posted on by catweeden
All In Or All Out: Letting Go And Moving Forward When A Kid Leaves Your Gym
17
Jan
Cat Weeden Circle

By Cat Weeden

Published January 17, 2019

This industry demands every single part of you to be successful.

You must be able to problem solve, balance budgets, work quickly and work well under pressure. You will sacrifice your time, your sleep, your relationships, and the ability to talk about anything else other than cheer in a one on one or group setting. I had no way to know almost 20 years ago that I would learn so much about love, loss and commitment through this sport. But I have. Over all these years, the biggest lesson I have learned, is that the greatest and most important part of you, that you voluntarily give away while coaching is your HEART.

I have given a piece of my heart away to thousands of kids who have turned into great adults, and great little people. They say that shared experience creates bonds, friendships and lifetime memories, and I cannot think of a better example of this than cheer. We grow with these kids through practices, tumbling classes, traveling, competing, handling adversity in their lives, celebrating individual and team successes and through navigating life, which can be really hard on some kids.

Its only natural that these kids hold a very special place in your life and you grow to love them like your own children.

There is no other heartbreak that is comparable in coaching, then when you have a kid or kids you have invested in, leave your program.Every coach or owner I have ever met, has a story (if not more than 1) of the total and absolute heartbreak stemming from this. It can be confusing, hurtful, blindsiding and really derail your forward momentum if you let it. Or this can be a moment in time where you grow as a coach and a person.

I have personally experienced this many times over the years. Its not easy to navigate through, but I have always come out the other side a better, stronger person. It’s important when you lose a kid to understand the situation from all angles, remind yourself that you ONLY want kids in your program that want to be there and lastly move on, find peace and gain focus.

Understanding the Situation from all Angles

Kids leave gyms or get out of cheer for a handful of reasons depending on their age.

Here are just a couple of reasons:

  • Cost
  • Time Commitment
  • Not Progressing
  • Burn out
  • Playing another Sport
  • Opportunism
  • Fit
  • Outside Distractions (Boyfriends, Friends, High School, Getting a Car, etc).

These are all valid reasons for a kid to start unengaging and want to quit or move on,  but these are not necessarily reasons that parent should allow it. But that’s itself could be a whole other blog ☺

Whatever their reasoning may be, once a kid or family lets one of those reasons fester long enough, it will become a distraction for them, you and the team. Not every kid is made for the long haul in cheer, and not every kid that starts in your program will make it to the end of their eligibility in your program. Once you understand and accept this some disappointment will come off your shoulder.

Put yourself in the kid or parent’s shoes.  Realize that sometimes it really isn’t about you, its about them and whatever stage they are in in their lives. If they have done you wrong before, during or after they’ve left, that’s on THEM, not you.

 

Our job is to love these kids, help them foster growth and become better people while they are with us. We are just lucky enough to do all of those things through the vehicle that is Cheer.

Only Want Kids in the Program That Want to Be There

This was a big mentality shift for me about 6 years ago. Instead of valuing my team, program or gym where I should have, I had gotten really suck on this idea that if a kid left it was because we “weren’t good enough in some way.” Being on the defense all the time stopped me from being able to read the team environment and individual kid’s interactions correctly. Some kids/ Parents are TOXIC to your gym and environment. Don’t fight for those people. Don’t stand in their way if they talk of leaving And don’t be sad when they leave.

Nowadays, my mentality is that it’s a privilege to cheer in our program, and I may love you, but if you don’t hold value in our gym, team, stunt, then this isn’t right fit for the kid, the team nor the program.

Move On, Find Peace and Gain Focus

Move on! Every kid that has ever come through your doors has been an important part of your history, your now and your future. No one kid, or handful of kids will define you or your program. It’s really easy to let getting burned by a kid or a family alter what you do, and question the motives of others around you. Be vigilant, but not paranoid.  Never let a situation or disappointment create an emotional wall between you and the people that are deserving of that love.

The last piece of the puzzle for me was gaining focus. I aim to focus on everyone around me that’s ALL IN. those people are the ones who can handle a rocky competition, terrible practice, stunt/ formation changes with grace and ease. They understand the process and the hills and valleys of a season. They understand that you are human and sometimes make mistakes, and they support you through them. I invest in these people and they invest in me and the program.  Give new kids and families that join your program the chance to create forever bonds with you.

People stay in a sport like cheer because of their kids abilities, and their belief that the coaches care about the kids successes on and beyond the mat. A gym is a family, and its own community. And that community is strongest when you believe in your program, your product and yourself . These kids deserve ALL of you, not just a small protected portion of you.

Water, love, and nurture the ones who have dropped roots and move forward from the ones who have not.

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Featured, Tips

How to get noticed

Posted on by Patrick Cowherd
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06
Jan
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By Patrick Cowherd

Published on January 6, 2019

You have worked hard, sacrificed and shown commitment to do what you love to do. There are goals and dreams you want to achieve, and we want to help you reach them.

Deciding whether or not to cheer at the collegiate level can be a difficult decision. You eat, sleep and breathe cheerleading, and it has become your life. Now, you are thinking, “what next?” “Will I even make a college cheerleading, stunt, or acrobatics and tumbling team?”

With the proper tools, yes you can!

Here at Paragon XL, we connect cheer athletes to college coaches and recruiters to help families find the right match for their children. In addition to cheerleaders, our program also caters toward gymnasts who may want to look at more opportunities for the future besides gymnastics.

We are an online recruiting service where athletes can upload photos, videos, endorsements and statistics for college coaches to see. No longer do you and your family need to travel all over the country to attend college visits and clinics, hoping they need the skills your child possesses. 

With Paragon XL, our members get firsthand access to college cheerleading, stunt and A&T programs, and in turn, these programs can connect with our members upon viewing all their information.

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We offer three different packages to suit everyone’s needs. Once you choose a package, you can complete your profile by uploading all your information with verifiable skills and endorsements. Then you can see which college teams are actively recruiting and what specific skills they are looking for in future athletes. Our XL Platform is easy to use and gets you the exposure you need to showcase your best. Now you know exactly the college teams in which you would be a good fit.

Coaches are able to use our XL platform to search by various data to find the athlete who fits their needs. Then, they can save athlete profiles, videos and photos and get in contact with the athletes they have interest in.

In addition to our XL Platform, we have an event coming up this summer that is perfectly catered toward recruiting potential cheer, stunt, A&T and dance athletes. The Fusion Combine, powered by Paragon XL and Paragon XL Dance, is a true two day combine that is geared towards testing more than your cheerleading, stunt, A&T and dance skills by professionals and industry leaders. Athletes will have the opportunity to meet with collegiate and professional coaches from across the country and show off their skills, in addition to participating in combine-level agility tests.

Our Fusion Combine will provide a platform for athletes to exhibit skills, ask questions and learn the requirements that universities and college require athletically and academically. The 2019 Fusion Combine is taking place on June 1-2 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. This year’s event is open to men and women grades 8-12 and collegiate athletes who want to cheer or dance at the Professional NBA/NFL level. Space is limited, so interested individuals should head to Paragon XL to register.

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REGISTER FOR FUSION COMBINE 2019

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Top-level school coaches and recruiters consider us the #1 cheerleading, stunt and A&T talent agency in the U.S.

“The University of Louisville Cheerleading and Spirit Program is excited to be on board with Paragon XL. One resource that connects the coaches, athletes and parents is a win for everyone in the industry.”

– Head Coach, University of Louisville (Paragon XL member)

“I would have gladly paid hundreds of dollars for this type of service. It is such a great tool to help my daughter get in front of the right coaches and colleges.”

– Paragon XL parent and member.

Getting noticed by college cheerleading, stunt and A&T coaches is within reach! Sign up today at Paragonxl.net to earn scholarships and get recruited.

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Featured, News, Tips

How to properly train for a “Full Out”

Posted on by Matt Kelley
How To Properly Train For A “full Out”
06
Dec
Ipp Contributor Matt Kelley

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By Matt Kelley

Published on December 6, 2018

One of the biggest & most controversial questions in the Cheerleading World….”How to properly train for a Full Out?”  There are so many variables that come with this question:

All while needing to maintain TECHNIQUE!   As a Cheerleader my self for more than 15 years, and a Coach of 15 years, these are some of my suggestions to help!

Safety Mobile

One of the most important things to maintain, Safety, is to properly have the skill before performing it in a routine/practice.  Being able to do the skill multiple times, while maintaining technique!

As a coach, I make my athletes over rotate their skills when training them in a Private Lesson or Tumbling Class.  Weird right?

Here is my theory:

If I am training to stick & stand a Standing tuck in my tumbling class, but in the routine, the Standing tuck is 45 seconds into the routine…I might fall forward.  So I suggest, training the Skill to OverRotate.  This also helps with getting your chest up when landing the skill.

Preparing the body physically

is MAJOR KEY!

 As stated above, skills can be performed separately, with ease.  But as we know, a cheer routine is 2 minutes and 30 seconds of Non Stop Physical skills.  I am a firm believer in making sure the athletes body is Physically Strong enough to do the skills.  Working out (depending on the level) 2-3 days outside/after practice are incredibly important.

The higher the level, the more conditioning you should do for your body.  In a perfect world, it would be great to land that 3 to double full to the front every time.  But when running multiple sections and/or full outs, it doesn’t always work out that way. Your body must be strong enough to with stand some of those (hopefully never) incomplete spins.

Strength
Strength

What body parts should I focus on to work out?  I suggest Core, Explosive Leg movements, Arm Strength and also Calves.  I post different work outs & conditioning drills on my snapchat Mkells5891 every week.

Higher level gymnasts will condition 30-45 minutes before their practices 4-5 times a week.  Not only does this help them gain New Skills, but also be strong enough to perform the ones they are currently competing.

Speaking of gymnast…I reached out to my long time friend, Olympic Gymnast Jonathan Horton, to ask him how he trained.  If you don’t know who he is, here are a few of his stats:

Jonathan

Jonathan horton

  • 2-Time Olympian (2008 & 2012)
  • Bronze & Silver Olympic Medalist
  • World Bronze All-Arounder
  • 2-Time US National Champion
  • 6-Time NCAA National Champion
  • 4-Time American Ninja Warrior Competitor
  • NBC Broadcast Analyst
  • Author
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Jonathan horton

  • 2-Time Olympian (2008 & 2012)
  • Bronze & Silver Olympic Medalist
  • World Bronze All-Arounder
  • 2-Time US National Champion
  • 6-Time NCAA National Champion
  • 4-Time American Ninja Warrior Competitor
  • NBC Broadcast Analyst
  • Author

Here were a few questions I asked him, when it came to preparing to do his full out routines properly:

Here were a few questions I asked him, when it came to preparing to do his full out routines properly:

When you trained your floor routine (tumbling), did you always do it straight on the floor…or onto Mats or into a pit?

75% of my tumbling was done with safety measures. Either I was tumbling into the pit, resi pit, or I used mats on the floor. Tumbling takes an extreme toll on the body over time, and although our pride wants us to go all out on the real surface, it’s important to protect ourselves first. If you do enough repetitions onto safe surfaces, most athletes won’t feel like it’s necessary to do as many numbers later.

How often did you Practice?  How often did you condition your body?

In my prime I trained twice a day. I did morning conditioning for 2 hours on M,W,F, but 6 days a week I did a 4 hour routine training workout in the afternoon. Even on days that I didn’t have morning strength and conditioning, I did some light conditioning in the afternoons everyday. It’s important to keep every muscle group moving. Even on light days it’s important to stretch muscle groups or even do a couple of light reps just for muscle memory.

Was your conditioning things directed towards strengthening things to improve your floor routine & keep your body safe?

I did a lot of “get stronger” conditioning, which involved some brutal workouts that tore me down pretty bad, but the majority of my strength and conditioning was for general body strength and cardio ability. It’s important to cycle in an out of different types of conditioning. Athletes that are always trying to see “gains” will eventually injure themselves because our bodies have to recover.

Yhz Jonathan
How often would you do a REAL Full our floor routine? Monthly, Weekly etc?  And why that number?

We tumbled 3 days/week, but we only did routines when we were in season. During season we would do anywhere from 1-3 routines in a 45min session. Off season training just required a lot of strength training and tumbling into the pit to learn new skills.

How often would you do a REAL Full our floor routine? Monthly, Weekly etc?  And why that number?

We tumbled 3 days/week, but we only did routines when we were in season. During season we would do anywhere from 1-3 routines in a 45min session. Off season training just required a lot of strength training and tumbling into the pit to learn new skills.

Going back to question 4, did that give you the longevity in gymnastics and the ability to compete in the Olympics 3 times?

My longevity came from a well thought out game plan that relied on putting how my body felt over results. Results ’now’  driven people will burn out versus someone who sees the long term game can last a long time. No matter what, our bodies will break down overtime, but being smart and listening to what our bodies are telling us can keep us in the game a while.

Awesome to get some tips from a former Olympic Gymnast!  .

Moving forward, let’s talk about Mental Toughness.  Some Coaches & Athletes would agree this one is the most difficult to master.  I believe it’s Extremely important to have a Balance of Physical Strength & Mental Strength.  

What are the best ways to Master the Mental toughness that a certain Skill or Full Out brings?

  • Proper Progression of the Skill
  • Good Reps—Do the skill multiple times with perfect technique

Once you have mastered those things, it’s time to start training them with small routine sections.  Here are a couple examples:

  1. Cut the routine into 5 different sections.  Do each one 2-3 times with perfection. Throughout practice, note what section had mistakes, and at the end, focus on details with the skills in that Section.  As these 5 sections get easier, break it down to 4, then 3, then 2 & then 1.
  2. Divide the Routine into a Stunt Routine & a Tumble Routine.  You can do 3 of the Stunt Routines, then 3 of the Tumble Routines.  You can also do the Stunt Routine, then Tumble routine back to back multiple times.
  3. Let’s say you are a level 5 Worlds Team.  You could do Tucks for all tumbling and do the stunts & jumps full out.  This is a great way to push your endurance and focus on building elements.
  4. Some coaches like to make it a game, which makes it more fun for the athletes.  You could have a wheel to spin, and have different elements of the routine on the wheel:  All Stunts, All Tumbling, 1st half, no jumps etc.
Mental Toughness

Those are just a few examples.  Closing out, I wanna conclude with some of our main points when Preparing Properly for a Full Out  

Perfect

  • Perfection of each skill individually

  • Proper Progression of the routine, which will help with building confidence

  • Strength & Endurance of the body.  Making sure to condition outside of practice.  

Shout out to Jonathan Horton for the interview.  

 

Be on the look out for his new book coming out December 4th,

“If I had known”

 

Thanks again for reading my article.  

Hope this helped everyone! Message me what you would like to have me write about next!

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PHOTO CREDITS:  ADRIAN KRAUS

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