A lot of people probably think I started this gym for my kids. It makes sense, a lot of moms see that they want more for their kids than what is being offered in their area. But my love for this sport precedes the existence of my children by decades – it has been woven into the fabric of my soul since the summer of 1994, when I dragged my mom into the sign-up line for Davison Youth Cheer the moment Parks & Rec opened up the building for fall registrations.

Community spirit was huge in my hometown of Davison, Michigan. I lived there my whole life. Fall and football season was a big ordeal and I had grown up going to the Homecoming parade every year. The first time I remember actually being IN the parade was when I was in kindergarten, and I rode the school float, sitting on a haybale as a Thomson Teddy. The football team led the way and the rest of the town lined the street to watch the parade. We started at the library on the west side of the town and rode all the way down Main Street, turned right past the elementary school and ended at the football field. As the end of the parade passed, most of the spectators followed the last float to the end to watch the game. It was like the team entered the stadium and the whole town collectively lifted them up in support.

Now, during this parade, the Varsity cheerleaders got to ride on the big firetruck, and the SENIOR cheerleaders? Well they got to ride in the truck’s bucket. I spent many years marching with my teams in this annual milestone and when I got to realize this dream of riding in the bucket my senior year, I’m pretty sure I actually shed a tear. And the importance of the joyful love and support of an entire community has been embedded in my convictions ever since. It’s not just pride of where you live, it’s the collective investment in the success of the next generation of humans growing up to become the newest pillars of this community.

After graduating from college in 2005, I got married, and my husband’s degree got him a great job with Boeing, so we immediately moved to the Seattle area and have been here ever since. Boeing as a company has been good to our family, and while we never really thought too far ahead back then, we accidentally made this our home. Seattle is very different from the midwest and we’ve struggled to find the type of community we both grew up with (Did I mention we went to the same high school? We did. Still married 25 years later) Seattle is a melting pot, with a lot of transplants who don’t stay here forever, and not as many people who stay put in their communities for generations. It’s why the community of our gym has always been so important to me.

We may not be able to control the Seattle Freeze (oh yes, it’s a real thing!) but we can choose to cultivate a culture within our gym to create the village of support so many of us crave. I love that our lobby constantly has parents sitting around the table laughing with each other while their kids are at practice. I love that athletes are friends across the gym, regardless of what team they’re on. I love that there’s always a party happening in the dance room. I love when I see parents having a blast in a hotel lobby at a travel competition.

After 8 years in business, I don’t have to be at the gym all.the.time anymore, which is a wonderful place to get to. I now have built a qualified and dedicated staff that know my heart and what is important to me, who are working to keep my wishes of a strong gym community alive and well while I take my son to soccer some nights and actually make dinner once in awhile. I’m a little more behind the scenes than I used to be now, but I still find immense joy when I walk out onto the floor to greet your beautiful children every week.

This gym is very special to me and I want it to be a second home for your kids, a safe place for your family, no matter which program you are part of. If you’re new to cheer, buckle up – this sport can be a rollercoaster ride of emotions. But with focus, hard work and a healthy dose of grit, this sport can also be incredibly fun and so rewarding.

I am so very glad to be a part of your child’s life. Thanks and stay tuned for more from me!