Premier Athletics

Premier Athletics Park Hills, planned a suprise homecoming for one of their cheerleaders, Peyton. Peytons brother Bryan is in the military and had been overseas for several months. Peyton was hoping that he would come home for Christmas, but she did not think he would be able to. Her mom is a member of the staff and Premier Athletics wanted to suprise her. So that is what they did and the local news station ran the story. It is a beautiful and heart warming story - you must watch!

WATCH THE HOMECOMING!

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Congratulations, Monica Pinori

Name: Monica Pinori

Age: 14

Grade: 8

Team: Premier Athletics Nashville - ACE Mohaves

Monica loves everything about cheerleading! She loves how challanging it is. She enjoys learning new and exciting things knowing that there’s always something new that you can work for in order to make herself and her team better. Monica loves making new friends and working together as a team. She loves performing in front of everyone and showing them all of the things the team has learned together throughout the year. But what she loves most is getting a new skill, whether it tumbling or stunting because it makes here feel proud of herself and she feels like she's accomplished something.

Her favorite coach is Becky Ward. Becky is her coach this year, and she has also coached Monica previously. Monica says, "I can tell you that she definitely believes in us and wants us to be the best athletes we can possibly be! I have definitely learned a lot of new skills from her that I never thought I could do. She knows what she’s doing and she will make us do it several times until we get it perfect, which is what we need as a team to place first!"

Monica works hard to be a team player and encourage her fellow athletes. She does her best to push through for her team. Her most memorable moment was attending cheerleading camp with her team in Chattanooga, TN. All of the campers where split up by age and given a song. They had to take the words of the song and change them to relate to cheerleading make up some moves to the song and perform it for the camp. Monica said that was so much fun!

In addition to her dedication to Premier Athletics - ACE Mohaves Monica is also a football, basketball and competition team cheerleader and her Middle School. In the 7th grade Monica was inducted into Beta club for high academic achievement and worthy character. Monica was voted as a Student Council Representative by her peers, and is a member of the S.T.A.R.S. Leadership Team. She also volunteered as a leader at Vacation Bible School!

Monica we are very proud of her. Congratulations on being athlete of the month!

Premier Athletics Kicks Off Little Explorers

Premier Athletics is so excited about its new preschool programs that began January 1st, 2012. Premier facilities have always offered preschool classes, but they have taken their program to a whole new level. Our Little Explorers program offer gymnastics, dance and sports. It incorporates learning into each weeks physical activities! The students love learning fun facts that are incorporated into their gymnastics, dance or sports lessons. Each month has a specific theme to keep the students having fun with coloring pages and certificates to take home! Since its launch just a few short weeks ago the Little Explorers program has over 400 preschool students ages 2-5. If you are interested contant your local Premier Athletics. Little Explorers offers classes for ages 2 - 5 years old and enrollment is still open so CALL NOW! Website coming soon - premierathletics.com/littleexplorers

Watch a sample of the Little Explorers Gymnastics Class featured on the WBIR news!

Sample Curriculum and Benefits of Little Explorers Gymnastics

Sample Curriculum and Benefits of Little Explorers Dance

Sample Curriculum and Benefits of Little Explorers Sports

Athlete of the Month

Courtney Howard

Name: Courtney Howard

Age: 17

Grade: 12

Team: Premier Athletics Johnson City - Gymnast

Courntey Howard is a gymnast at Premier Athletics Johnson City. She says her most memorable moment was winning bars at the Regional Championships. Out of the eight states that competed in her age group, she was able to finish in first place on bars.

Julie Proctor is her favorite coach, Courtney says, "through my eleven years of training with her, she has never given up on me through many injuries, and has always pushed me to my limits because she knows what I am capable of. I would not be where I am in this sport without all the help she has given me." Courtney has been practicing for a very long time is proud that she has mastered a double back on the floor. She dedciates her life to the sport of gymnastics. Her favorite part of the sport is the competitions. She loves being able to go to a meet and show - off what she has worked so hard to learn.

In addition to her dedication to gymnastics, Courtney attend Science Hill High School. She is a Beta Club member and an honor roll student. She participates in community service activities and mission trips with her church.

Way to Courtney!

Knoxville Gymnasts Compete at the Trampoline World Competitions in England

West High School senior, Kaylah Whaley, finished competition on November 20th in the Team Final of the women’s tumbling at the 28^th Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in Birmingham, England where team USA finished 4^th behind China, Russia, and France. Team USA moved up one place, over Great Britain, from the qualifying competition held on Friday. This was Whaley’s first World Championship, the youngest on the USA women’s tumbling team. No USA women’s tumblers qualified to Sunday’s individual final featuring the top eight in the world.

The 28^th Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships also served as one of two qualifying competitions for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Tumbling is not one of the Olympic events, so Whaley was not eligible for qualification. A total of 39 countries competed in this World Championship. Whaley was the only Tennessee gymnast that qualified to participate.

USA Women’s Tumbling Team

Kaylah Whaley of Knoxville, Tenn./Premier Athletics Knoxville

Natalya Beneschott of Pocatello, Idaho/Team Revolution
Yuliya Brown of Idaho Falls, Idaho/Idaho Elite Gymnastics
Marina Moskalenko of Orlando, Fla./Stick It Gymnastics

________________________________________________________________________

Ashley Kessler, senior at Hardin Valley Academy, competed at the Trampoline World Age Group Competitions in the women’s trampoline and double mini-trampoline (age 17-18 division), also in Birmingham, England, from November 24-27. The competition featured athletes ages 11-18 from 38 countries. Kessler placed 14^th in the trampoline preliminary competition and 16^th in the double mini-trampoline.

__________________________________________________________________________

Both athletes train and compete for Premier Athletics at their Knoxville North facility on Callahan Drive and are coached by Eric Thomas, who is also the USA Gymnastics regional director for trampoline and tumbling in the Southeast (Region 8).

Congratulations to both athletes and their coach for representing the United States so well.

Northern Kentucky A - TEAM

Premier Athletics Northern Kentucky formed an A - Team! The A - Team consists of current Premier Athletics Athletes. The "A" Team members had to fill out and application meeting certain criteria (good grades, good attendance, commited to attending all events, respectful to athletes and coaches and more) and were then selected. The team is made up of athletes from Youth to Senior Age and some Northern Kentucky staff members.

The “A” Team has performed at the Erlanger Lions Carnival and that staffed worked a booth (on the hottest day of the year), they performed at Prostate Walk in Cincinnati, they participated in the Check Your Genes 5k in Edgewood by passing out water to the participants and they represented KYAS at NKYFL Cheer Competition and was asked to throw together some stunts and tumbling at the spur of the moment to entertain the crowd due to a delay.

Currenlty the "A" Team is sponsoring chilrend of soldiers of the 940th Military Police Company. The soldiers of the 940^th Military Police Company (local National Guard) are currently deployed to Iraq. The 940^th is having their Company Christmas Party on December 4^th for the families of the soldiers who are deployed. Since so many of the soldiers are deployed, families and friends are pulling together to make this as special an event as possible for the youth of the 940^th. Each of our 12 cheer and dance teams at KYAS NKY is adopting a child! This is a HUGE help and relief to Family Readiness Group because they had over 80 children they had to find sponsors for. The 940^th Christmas Party is on December 4^th in Walton, Kentucky.

Go "A" team! The team members are:

Athletes: Staff Members that perform with team:

McKenna Anthony Emily Engels

Kaitlyn Barnes Chelsea Mauck

McCartney Bender James Naugle

Audrey Binford Clinton Wigglesworth

Claire Binford Alexa Wood

Emerson Bosley Brittany Wood

Marinda Bosley

Catarina Candela Staff Members that coordinate, supervise and attend all events:

Brooke Cottengem Rosalind Wood

Kelsey Davis Denise Quinn

Brittany Dickman Brigette Phelps

Courtney Eversole

Lindsey Foust

Alexis Haggard

Maddison Hartman

Caitlin Hedger

Ava Phelps

Kaylyn Phillips

Olivia Piecoro

Peyton Quinn

Gary Rapp

Haley Stacy

Samantha Steffen

Madison Taylor

Hunter Thomas

Jack Walz

Carly Wood

Jackson Wood

Delaney Wright

CONGRATULATIONS SAMANTHA BURKE

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Name: Samantha Burke

Age: 15

Grade: 10

Team: Premier Athletics Hurricanes Senior Vortex

Sam has been a member of the Hurricanes for several years. Her favorite part of cheerleading is competing, making new friends and meeting new people from all over. She loves to watch all the teams at the competition! She enjoys seeing their routines and the new skills they have been learning. Her favorite coach is Cody Snyder, Cody always encourages her and pushes her to be the best she can be. He supports her and always knows how to make her smile. Her other favorite coach is Robert Del Toro. He was her first cheerleading coach when she began cheering in Panama City, FL. Sam was a cheerleader for Robert at Premier Athletics Wildcats. Robert introduced her to competing and the love of the sport.

Samantha's most memorable cheerleading moment was when her Junior team won 1st place and Grand Champions at the State Cheerleading and Dance Championships! In addition to her dedication to cheerleading Sam is a student at Nease High School in St. Augustine Florida. She is a cheerleader at Nease and has been selected All American Cheerleader at cheer camp for the last two years. Sam traveled to New York this year and participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. She says, It was the most amazing experience of her life. On top of all of this Sam manages to stay on the A/B Honor Roll at her school. Congratulations Sam!

Steve Butcher Give the Judges Oath of the World Gymnastics Championships

Steve Butcher is the Director of Gymnastics for Premier Athletics. This year in Tokyo, Japan at the Opening Ceremonies of the World Gymnastics Steve gave the Judges Oath! We are so proud of you Steve!

Norway Cheerleaders V-ROC camp at Premier Athletics Jacksonville

Leighton Clarke was the V-ROC camp instructor. Her favorite part of camp was seeing the reactions of the team when they learned material. She said that they learned stunts and pyramids very quickly. She had a blast learning the Norwegian names they call each skill, for example Back handspring = flic flak & Back tuck = salto! Leighton said that the Norwegian cheerleaders were very similar to American cheerleaders. They are really eager to learn and work very hard. She felt that by choosing Premier Athletics for their camp the cheerleaders from Norway are leaving with more than just cheerleading skills and she was honored to work with them!

May-Britt Falcke the organizer of the camp and she said the teams favorite part of camp was EVERYTHING! The team really loved stunting and all of the new creative stunts they learned. They also love working on tumbling and the fun games, and the ability to work on all aspects of cheerleading with the same staff. The team usually work with a stunt coach and then a different coach for tumbling. The team had a great time at Premier Athletics and some of the team members even took private lessons. While they were not at the gym practicing they went to the beach and shopping. The team loved the warm weather in Jacksonville.

We asked the coach what kind of experience her program had with the Hurricane All Stars and the coaches at the gym?

She asnwered - The camp was great! We didn’t get to meet many of the Hurricane kids because of our schedule. But the entire Norway program had a blast and loved the entire week! We loved the very clean gym and Ritch was very helpful in making our trip a memorable one! The quality of the staff was absolutely amazing. The way all of the coaches explain each skill and all of the techniques really helped our kids develop. Our cheerleaders are leaving more knowledgeable in every aspect of cheerleading. Thank you to the staff…Leighton Clarke, William “Blue” Snay, Cody Snyder & Ritch Ludke!

Congratulations Carly Wood

Lloyd Memorial High School's Homecoming Queen

It's a family thing! Premier Athletics of Northern Kentucky is truly a family when it comes to Brittany, Alexa and Carly Wood. These 3 sisters have been cheering and coaching together for the last 5 years and now they not only share a love for cheerleading and dance, but they share the "crown". Carly Wood joins her sisters in becoming her high school's (Lloyd Memorial) Homecoming Queen 2011, Brittany was the first queen in 2006, followed by Alexa in 2008 and now Carly in 2011. Another fun fact, their brother Jackson was also nominated for Homecoming King and escorted Carly onto the field for the announcemet of Queen, truly a family affair!

Congratulations Julia Marshall

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Name: Julia Marshall

Age: 12

Grade: 7th

Team: Premier Athletics Michigan - Showstoppers

Julia loves to compete and perform in front of a crowd and she loves to tumble. Her favorite part of cheerleading is the friendships she has made over the years. Being a part of Premier Athletics - Michigan is like having a second family. Julia's favorite coach is Rachele Lindberg. Rachele has coached Julia since the first grade and has watched her grow up. Julia says, "Rachelle has inspired my love for the sport. Rachele has very high expectations for us as individuals and the team as a whole. She encourages us to try new skills and believes in our abilities. So it makes us believe too! Racehlle is not always "easy" but she has a way of getting us to work hard and still have fun. Rachelle truly has a gift for coaching."

Julia's most memorable cheer moment was throwing her standing tuck at the All Levels Competition in Cincinnati last season. She had been working on it for a very long time and was afraid to throw it during the competitions for fear of a possible deduction. Julia decided to go for it at the last minute and landed it perfectly. The team ended up winning the entire competition too! Julia is very hard working especially when it comes to cheerleading. She has developed her own home work out plan and she sticks to it every day. She constantly pushes herself and it always setting goals for herself. Julia works just as hard in school and is a straight "A" honor roll student.

In addition to her competitive cheer team at the gym, Julia participates on the school sideline cheer team and plays volleyball. Last season she won the Divine Child Catholic Youth Organization sportsmanship award for volleyball. Julia also volunteers on weekends as a "buddy" at the Miracle League of Michigan where she assists handicapped children play baseball. She helps the children to hit and catch the ball and runs the bases with them. Julia also prepares hygiene kits for the Mercy Primary Care Center in Detroit. The Center provides showers for thousands of homeless people every year. In addition, she served lunch to the homeless during national homelessness awareness week.

Congratulations Julia!

Congratulations Meredith Lindsay

Miss Railroad Days

Meredith Lindsay is an instructor and former cheerleader and dancer at Premier Athletics Clayton. Particpating in a pageant is something Meredith has always wanted to do and she decided to go for it. Selma Railroad Days is a festival that was started 36 years ago to help raise money for the train depot in Selma, NC. Today it is just a celebration of the ritch herritage of the railroad. Selma is thought to be home of the oldest train station in North Carolina. Every year the weekend before the festival Selma has the Miss Selma Railroad Days pageant.

Meredith had to compete in four different categories which were interview, casual wear, talent, and evening gown with an onstage question. At the end of the competition there were individual awards given out. She received most photogenic and the community service award. She was also crowned Miss Selma Railroad Days. Meredith said, "At first I was shocked because it was my first pageant, but I had set my mind to it and stayed confident throughout the whole competition." For the next year she will be making various appearances in the community and riding in a lot of parades. Her main goal during the pageant was not only to get to know the many wonderful people in our community, but to also encourage young girls to set goals and go for their dreams. She definitely proved that to herself the night she was crowned. Meredith's interview question, was who has been the biggest role model in herlife? Meredith said the answer was not hard at all! It was Stacy Rowe. Stacy currenlty works at Premier Athletics Corporate office, but previously was the manager and coach of the Clayton facility. She has been Meredith's coach for many years. Meredith said, "You cannot even imagine what Stacy's encouragment and love has meant to me over the past years. Being a part of Premier Athletics has made me the confident young woman I am today and I know for a fact I would have never been able to have gotten up on that stage and done what I did that night. She has taught me what it means to believe in yourself and that anything is possible. Winning the pageant will now allow me to inspire young people to do just what Stacy and the Premier Athletics program did for me. I cannot thank her enough for everything and I am excited to be a part of the Premier Clayton Shockers staff as MIss Selma Railroad Days!"

MIX Cheer and Dance on the Ariel and Zoey Show

Photo taken by: Scott Sprague

The past four years have been an exciting whirlwind for the Ann Arbor, MI–based 12-year-old twins Ariel and Zoey Engelbert and their younger brother, 10-year-old Eli. With their nationally syndicated music variety TV show Ariel & Zoey & Eli, Too beginning its second season on September 26, 2011, the trio – who also have their own band Sugar Station – have been dreaming big and living even bigger. Ever since Ariel and Zoey caught the attention of famed Detroit radio personality Dick Purtan with their cover of “The Rainbow Connection” that they recorded just for fun, it’s been full steam ahead, with the addition of little brother Eli, who has gone from the girls’ charming and animated emcee to a full-fledged member of the show and band. After their first tour of U.S. military bases in 2009, they were asked to film a pilot episode of a show that encompassed the energy of their live performances. Hence, Ariel & Zoey & Eli, Too came to be.

With the goal of empowering, educating and entertaining children primarily through music, Ariel & Zoey & Eli, Too debuted in September of 2010 and is now available in more than 90 million U.S. homes. The show features interviews with celebrities like Miranda Cosgrove and David Archuleta and accomplished public figures across many different sectors, educational segments and Sugar Station performances with the show’s varied musical guests, as well as the band’s own music videos. Planning the episodes’ content by using their own interests, observations and appetite for fun, Ariel, Zoey and Eli have created a show rich with musicality, humor, lessons and, most importantly, a lot of heart.

Check out this sneak peek montage of Season 2 which will feature Miranda Cosgrove, The Verve Pipe, brand new Sugar Station songs, students from The University of Michigan Musical Theater Department (a program that has sent many of its alumni to Broadway!), the Parade Company, the home of the celebrated America’s Thanksgiving Parade, and an inside look at Detroit’s top radio show Blaine & Allyson In The Morning.

In season two Michigan Xtreme Cheer and Dance was featured in an Ariel & Zoey & Eli, Too episode. The episode was designed to support anit-bullying. The MIX team was performing to the "Ballad of Bernie" written by Broadway composer Gary Adler. Check out a clip of the upcoming episode! Also featured in the episode was Michigan's Opera Theater Children's Chorus.

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Congratulations - Lauren Wilder

Name: Lauren Wilder

Age:17

Grade: 12th, Clayton High School

Team: Premier Athletics Clayton Shockers - Big Diprz

Lauren has been dancing at Premier Athletics in Clayton for 7 years. She says, "dancing is a whole different world. My favorite part of dance is being able to listen to a piece of music and let my movements become all the beats and rhythms" Lauren thinks that all of the coaches at Premier Athletics are absolutely fabulous but her favorite coach is Stacy Rowe. Lauren feels that Stacy is always very encouraging and constantly pushes her to challenge herself, which helps her grow as a dancer. Lauren says that she has learned so much working with Stacy and would not be the dancer she is today without her. Lauren said that Stacy taught her to really let go and live in the movements and the music. Stacy Rowe is her role model and has influenced both her dancing and her outlook and appreciation of life.

Lauren's most memorable moments are the ones spent with her teammates. The team is always different and the teammates are all different but dancing always brings the team closer together. Especially after the season her team had last year, Lauren realized that her teammates will always be there for her. The team helped her get through a lot of hard times and she would do the same for them. Lauren works very hard to be a great dancer. The hardest skill she has mastered is putting her emotions into a dance routine. Last year her team performed a routine about the death of her grandmother. Each piece of music represented a different emotion and the emotions grew from anger, eventually leading to happiness and a deeper appreciation of life. Lauren and her team had to learn how to manipulate those emotions at the drop of a hat to tell the story and evoke emotion from the audience.

In addition to dancing on the Senior Hip Hop and Jazz teams at Premier Athletics Clayton. Lauren is also the Youth Hip Hop Dance Team Student Assistant. She also works part time at a local coffee shop, she challenges herself in school by taking all honors and advanced placement courses. She is an active member of her high school's Key Club and History Club. If that isn't enough to keep her busy she also volunteers at the local SPCA.

Congratulations Lauren!

NORTHERN KENTUCKY ALL STAR BY DAY ACTOR BY NIGHT

Name:Jack Walz

Age: 11

Graqde: 6th

School: Turkeyfoot Middle School

Jack is a cheerleader at Premier Athletics Northern Kentucky. Jack has loved watching and participating in cheerleading since he was 5 years old. He enjoys all aspects from tumbling to stunting to dancing. He has many tumbling skills including standing full and is working is double full. Jack is a 2nd year athlete on our Youth Limited Travel 3 team. Cheerleading is not Jack's only love. In addition to going to school and his all star cheerleadig team he is a professional actor and model. Jack has appeared in several local commercials and print ads and had a small role in the 2011 movie "I Am Number Four". He continues to audition whenever he gets a call. And if that doesnt keep him busy enough, he runs cross county for Dixie Heights High School. It is Jacks goal to become a director or a choreographer when he grows up!

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Congratulations! Amanda Almodovar

Name: Amanda Almodova

Age: 10

Grade: 6th

Team: Flying Spyders

When we asked Amanda who her favorite coach was, she said "Grace Jestrab she is nice and is a great coach. She teaches me in a patient and caring manner. She is always smiling and has a welcoming attitude." Amanda's most memorable moment in cheerleading so far are the friendships she has developed and the people she has met from all of the other premier gyms.

While Amanda is not cheering she is going to school and studying hard so she can continue to be on the honor roll. She wants to be a good student and stay focused on her work. Since starting Premier Athletics in February she has learned her Back Tuck. She loves everything about the sport and especially appreciates making great friends and meeting new people.

Knoxville Gymnasts headed to World Competitions in Trampoline & Tumbling

Kaylah Whaley (senior at West High School) and Ashley Kessler (senior at Hardin Valley Academy) will travel and participate in the two most prestigious international trampoline and tumbling events in the world this year and represent the USA.

Whaley was named to the 2011-2012 USA Senior National Team and will participate in the World Championships that will be held on November 16-19 in Birmingham, England by virtue of her 3^rd place finish in the women’s senior elite tumbling division at the U.S. Elite Championships for Trampoline and Tumbling on July 9 in San Antonio, Texas. She is currently listed as an alternate for the USA in the tumbling competition, but changes can occur at any time before and during the event. Whaley understands her role as back-up for the USA team score and will continue to train vigilantly should she be called upon to compete.

Ashley Kessler will compete in the tumbling and double mini-trampoline (17-18 year old division) at the World Age Group Championships taking place November 20-26 in Birmingham, England at the same venue of the World Championships. Kessler qualified to the World Age Group Championships through her placement in the women’s junior elite division at the U.S. Elite Championships for Trampoline and Tumbling on July 9 in San Antonio, Texas.

Both athletes train at Premier Athletics on Callahan Drive in North Knoxville and are coached by Eric Thomas, the USA Gymnastics Regional Director for Trampoline and Tumbling in the Southeast.

Whaley has competed in three previous World Age Group Championships, and is eligible to also participate in the 2011 championship where she would be a favorite to medal in the 17-18 year old tumbling competition. However, team USA needs her as a back-up to protect the USA team score at the World Championships, the more prestigious competition.

The future of Knoxville area trampoline and tumbling athletes looks bright. Seven local area athletes won medals at the 2012 USA Junior Olympic Trampoline & Tumbling National Championships, held in San Antonio, TX from July 10-15 with approximately 2,000 athletes participating.

Knoxville area medal winners at the USA Junior Olympic Trampoline and Tumbling National Championships, July 10-15:

Name	City	Gym / Club	Medal / Division	Medal /Division
Jordan Comer	LaFollette	Premier Athletics	Gold on Girls’ Level 8 Double Mini-Trampoline Ages 9-10	Silver on Girls’ Level 9 Tumbling Ages 9-10
Paul Bretscher	Knoxville	Premier Athletics	Gold on Boys’ Level 9 Tumbling Ages 13-14
Lindsey Kessler	Knoxville	Premier Athletics	Bronze on Girls’ Level 10 Tumbling Age 17-18
Gatlyn Greeson	Knoxville	Premier Athletics	Bronze on Girls’ Level 7 Trampoline Ages 7-8
Gabe Rives	Knoxville	Premier Athletics	Bronze on Boys’ Level 6 Tumbling Ages 9-10
Austin Morse	Knoxville	Premier Athletics	Bronze on Boys’ Level 6 Tumbling Ages 11 - 12
Megan Gardner	Knoxville	Tataru’s	Bronze on Girls’ Level 5 Trampoline Age 10’s

Premier Athletics Business and Coaches Education Summit

Premier Athletics will be hosting its annual staff training retreat. The retreat will be held at the Flip Fest/One Up Camp in Crossville, TN on September 16th - 18th. All staff from Premier Athletics gyms will attend the training. We are excited to announce that this year we will open it up to the Varsity Network gyms. Three fun filled days of continuing education, business education, and relaxation. We are excited to have some of the best of the best with us in Crossville to provide the tools that we need to better ourselves. Relax, Rejuvinate, Learn and Enjoy! Sessions will begin on Friday at 6pm and Close at noon on Sunday. Sessions will be offering in cheerleading, dance, gymnastics, business and front desk management.

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Congratulations! Kyle Steele

Name: Kyle Steele

Age: 16

Grade: 11th

Team: Mohicans

Kyle's most memorable cheerleading moment was winning High School Cheerleading Nationals with Centennial High School his Freshman year. Kyles favorite coach is Nick Wilson He respects Nick because he is always pushing him to be a better cheerleader and to achieve his very best. Kyle works hard on his tumbling skills and wants to perfect them, he is excited when he gets a new skill, but knows that he needs to work hard to polish it up. Kyle loves cheerleading and puts his whole heart and soul into it. The thing that he loves most about the sport is that he can be himself and it is so much fun. In addition to cheering for ACE of Tennessse he attends and cheers for Page High School. Kyle is a member of his church youth group and chior and he also coaches at Premier Athletics in Nashville. Congratulations Kyle!

Premier Athletics Sharks Birthday Suprise

From one mom to another - I am sure you can relate!

Bailey’s Big “10” Surprise

You only turn from single to double digits once in your life. For my sweet daughter, Bailey, I wanted to make sure it was unforgettable. She has never been a fan of the most current teeny bop artist that most little girls are, instead she has stuck with only one that she absolutely adores and that is Taylor Swift.

So, when I heard she was coming to Knoxville on July 1^st I know what I had to do, work magic! It was perfect because her birthday is June 29^th and I could make it a huge celebration. All the planning started in February, reserved Hummer stretch limo, ordered her cake, invited her friends, and made restaurant reservations. Only thing was tickets hadn’t even gone on sell yet, and the day that they were going on sale I would be in a car headed to Cheersport in Atlanta. Needless to say there were three of us frantically calling nonstop to get tickets that day, and thank God we did before they sold out!

On the way home from Atlanta that weekend the commercial came on the radio that Taylor was coming to Knoxville and that the concert sold out in record minutes, and Bailey was not happy to hear such words and was upset. I told her it was ok and maybe next time. It was the longest 4 months of my life keeping this secret!

Friday, July 1^st finally arrived and I could have not been more thrilled. The day started with Bailey getting a mani/pedi and then I took her to get hair shimmers by Bonnie at Bling and Blossoms and Bonnie’s daughter Michaela curled and fixed her hair for me too. She had then begun to ask questions on why she had to get so dressed up and where were we going. Of course my response was “IT’S ALL A SURPRISE” just be patient and you will see. We went home changed into our clothes and off we went again, only this time to sit in a parking lot around the corner from Premier Athletics. That’s where everyone was meeting and where the limo was picking us up. The call came, “the limo’s here” and off we went down the street where her grand chariot was awaiting. I made her put on a blind fold and get out of the car, that’s when everyone yelled ”SURPRISE” and she saw all her friends with the limo. She was very shocked, but it was not until they yelled out where we were going that was the greatest moment. “We’re going to see Taylor Swift”, and that’s when she covered her face and started crying.

First stop was dinner at Calhoun’s on the river. The girls had a blast taking pictures and just hanging out. We had also found out that Taylor had just left there from eating dinner and we missed her! That would have been awesome, a little extra perk! Oh well, we had a fabulous time together and Taylor was great in concert. The ride back was very loud in the limo, all the girls decided to ride back upside down in their seats and they laughed all the way back to the gym. Once we got out of the limo Bailey was exhausted and fell asleep in the car on the way home. My little Cinderella’s Hummer stretch limo had turned back into her mom’s Mazda6!

It was long planned for with great anticipation just like my little girl, Bailey Gabrielle McGehee.

MICHIGAN XTREME VIP'S

MIX Cheer VIP's were featured in American Cheerleader. The article was title "a special focus" and written by Brianne Carlon

Sometimes it takes more than full twists and solid Supermans to create a unique squad; sometimes it takes the extra mile - something this issue's featured athletes know all about. Special needs teams cheering across the country have no shortage of talent, skill, passion or dedication, and this month, American Cheerleader spotlights four of these teams that are pushing the limits and reminding people what cheerleading is really about.

Sometimes the accomplishments we're most proud of are the ones that seem smallest. "We have an athlete who had no idea what a forward roll was." says Coach Debbie Cross of the Premier Athletics VIPs in Columbus, OH. "She's now mastered it and insists that you watch!" In the beginning, the VIPs also had athletes in wheelchairs who didn't want to leave their parents' sides. "Now they smile and giggle when they know they're coming to cheer or perform." Coach Cross says. "Making all my new friends helped me," says Kassidy Harding, 8. And Natalie Anderson. 12, also says that cheerleading has helped her "make new friends." There's also a young man who's learning how to do cartwheels, which athletes Daniel Cross. 18. and Holly Ranta. 24. agree is the hardest stunt. "This boy is taking direction and paying attention," Coach Cross says. "That's huge!"

All of this has happened in just one year since the inception of the VIPs' special needs team, which is now made up of seven females and one male, ranging in age from 4 to 24. "We had the passion and desire to do it," Lisa Hemmie. director of Premier Athletics - Michigan Xtreme, says, "but I wanted to find the right person with expertise in working with these athletes." She was introduced to Coach Cross in the summer of 20 1 0. "I knew she was the perfect person," she says.

The team practices once a week for an hour and a half. "We travel locally and regionally," says Hemmie, "and have performed at the University of Michigan basketball games." The biggest challenge. Coach Cross says, is "keeping their attention focused on the task at hand." To help keep the athletes from losing concentration, coaches try to limit extra noise in the gym as much as possible. "We also use cues like 'Look at my nose.' to keep them focused," she says. But when asked what she's most proud of, athlete Nicole Huff, 20. sums it up perfectly: "Being here."

While coaches need to have patience, the rewards are big. "There's not a dry eye when you watch an athlete with Down syndrome perfect her cartwheel or do the splits in front of the pyramid, watch an athlete in a wheelchair smile when he's onstage or see autistic children excel in a sport they love," Coach Cross says. "We love seeing the glint in their eye when they receive their uniform for the first time." Kassidy even says, "Wearing the uniform is my favorite part of cheer."

"Working with this team has changed everyone for the better," Coach Cross says. She also says people shouldn't forget to listen when they're around these remarkable athletes: "They'll teach you while you're teaching them."

CONGRATULATIONS ANGELA NOFFSINGER

Employee of the Year!

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

JAY CRUMP

Name: Jay Crump

Team: Premier Athletics Hurricanes - Junior Wave

Age: 10

Grade: 5

Jay's favorite coach is Ritch Ludke because he has taught him so much and is always so positive. Jay says that his most memorable cheerleading moments where when his mini team won the State Championship. His most recent favorite memory was this past season at Cheersport, Atlanta. He says that he would be in the gym all time if he could. He loves to cheer because of the team aspect of the sport and that he is constantly learning something new. In his community Jay has been recognized for his Responsibility during Character Counts. He is also an excellerated reader in school and helps fundraise for Relay for Life. Congratulations Jay!

PREMIER ATHLETICS CLAYTON HAS TREMENDOUS DANCE GROWTH

The Premier Clayton Shockers began in June of 2001. They completed their first season with a youth and junior cheer team and a junior and senior dance team. They began the dance program becuase they did not have enough Senior age kids interested in a cheer team. Premier Shockers took the 8 cheer kids they had started a Senior Funk dance team. Well it was a good thing that they did. The Shockers are beginning their 11th season and they have had some tremendous dance growth. The gym has a total of 28 teams cheer and dance teams combined, however they are one of the few gyms in the country to have 14 dance teams. At the beginning of team selection there was an overwheming turn out. It is the first year in Premier Athletics history that a dance program would offer so many teams. The 2011-2012 dance teams are as follows: Tiny Hip Hop, Mini Pom, Mini Hip Hop, Youth Hip Hop, Youth Jazz, Junior Hip Hop Small, Junior Hip Hop Large, Junior Pom, Junior Jazz, Senior Hip Hop All Girl, Senior Hip Hop Coed, Senior Performance Hip Hop, Senior Pom, Open Hip Hop and Parent Hip Hop. The all star dance industry has been growing for several years and the Shockers are no exception. The program is excited to be able to offer mutliple hip hop teams in the same age division and also to continueoffering technical training with their pom and jazz teams. They Shockers feel confident that the growth is only going to help them continue their success as a dance program.

PREMIER ATHLETICS PARK HILLS RENOVATES

Premier Athletics of Park Hills, KY is working on a major physicall overall. Manager Roslyn Wood says, "I am so excited about the new changes, we will be able to provide so much more to our athletes!" The renovations include a 30 X 32 dance room with a parquet floor, mirrors, and sound system. In addition they are creating a computer room for athletes to study or complete their homework and parents will be able to view their accounts online! Last but certainly not least, they are adding their very own Spirit Shop. The Spirit Shop will offer Kentucky All Stars merchandise, as well cheerleading and dance apparel for all ages.

In addition to all of the renovations, the staff has been hard at work sprucing up the gym and creating a great environment for all parents and athletes who attend Premier Athletics. If you haven't seen it yet you don't know what your missing. Come and check out the NEW Premier Athletics of Park Hills. Located at 1610 Dixie Hwy - Park Hills!

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