VALDOSTA — There is no such thing as perfection. But trying to reach perfection is always the goal for the young all-star athletes that call Winnersville Elite Cheer & Dance their training home.

Cheerleaders are often not considered serious athletes. In competitive cheer, there are no actual game days to cheer for; instead, they participate in competitions against other teams. Cheering is the sport in and of itself.

“Cheer offers great physical rewards but it is very much a social, team-based activity that can help boost kids’ self-confidence and leadership skills,” said Desiree Hagan, program director.

WE uses competition routines as an endurance training method by having the team execute the routines repetitively during practice to build the endurance they need to perform it once on the competition floor.

“For any athlete, especially our competitive cheer and dance programs, physical endurance is a must in order to execute routines with proper technique and strong performance quality as well as to minimize injury,” Hagan said.

WE believes that proper strength building is key to injury prevention and athlete development in both cheer and dance. Hagan said a portion of each class is designated specifically to exercises that build and strengthen specific muscle groups for safe progressions of skills.

“Body awareness plays a huge role in both cheer and dance,” Hagan said. “Coordination allows for effortless movement and body control, which is important to the proper execution of skills.”

Hagan stressed flexibility is not necessarily required to participate in cheer or dance; however, it is a huge asset to advancing in certain areas.

Team building is a huge part of any athlete’s participation on a team and WE holds events such as lock-ins, trunk-or-treating and parade participation to allow its athletes more opportunities to become a family.

“Team building naturally happens within practices; however, WE hosts several events and are involved in community events as well that allow our athletes to bond,” Hagan said.

For Hagan and her team, building confidence in their athletes is a huge part of what they do and another benefit of participating in the programs offered at Winnersville Elite.

“Allowing children to learn in a positive, encouraging and creative environment instills confidence, not just in cheer and dance, but in other aspects of life as well,” Hagan said.

It is important to Winnersville Elite that it provides a well-rounded program.

“We only get them for so long and it means a lot to me to watch them grow in the sport, but more importantly it’s great to see them mature in their life skills,” Hagan said.

Obtaining essential life skills is a positive benefit of being a part of Winnersville Elite that goes well beyond the physical.

“Winnersville Elite takes pride in teaching lessons that not only help our athletes in our gym or dance studio but lessons that will also help in life,” Hagan said. “Learning discipline while developing a strong work ethic to help build focus, goal setting abilities and teamwork are valuable lessons WE hopes to instill in every child, (which) we are blessed to work with.”

At Winnersville Elite Cheer & Dance, the goal is to show its dancers and cheerleaders that with hard work, dedication and passion, they can achieve anything.

“The competition and all-star aspect of Winnersville Elite requires all of these characteristics and gives our students the chance to be rewarded,” Hagan said. “Competition is not just about winning trophies but a chance to teach life lessons about sportsmanship and hard work.”

For Courtney Wright, who is a tumbling instructor, mini cheer team assistant and front desk help, she said she really enjoys her work.

“My favorite part of the job is watching them progress. I love when they go from ‘I don’t know how’ or ‘I cant do it’ to ‘look at me; watch me I did this’ or ‘can I show my mom.’ It really is my favorite thing,” Wright said.

As a coach at WE, it’s rewarding to see the progress of the young all-star athletes.

“It’s actually amazing to see them go out into the school and be able to show them the skills that they learned here,” Wright said.

They started off not knowing as much but they learned more and then went off to their schools and showed their friends, Wright said; as a result, some of their friends joined the gym.

“One of the benefits to being involved in our many programs is the impact we have not only on the child’s social, emotional and physical well being, but they have the opportunity to work as a team, building friendships and developing leadership skills,” Hagan said.

Blessed Wallace is the mother of a 6-year-old who is in all-star cheer and takes tumbling. She said she has seen major progress in her daughter since joining the gym.

“My daughter started at level one and moved up to level two within about two weeks,” Wallace said.

Wallace said her daughter is “super shy” and she is home schooled. So, the program has been great for helping her daughter come out of her shell.

“As far as social skills, her being with the other girls has made her more open and not as scared and nervous as she usually is,” Wallace said. “I love it. I absolutely love it. It’s the best thing.”

Sarah Merriman and Sarah Lambert have daughters who are on the all-star competitive dance team. Both moms said the program has taught their girls a lot about patience and teamwork. 

“I believe it teaches them that it is not just about yourself; it’s about the entire team,” Merriman said.

Even spirit leaders have bad days and Merriman said she often reminds her girls when they have a bad day and may not want to go to practice that it is not about them. It’s about the team.

“They always wind up thinking about the team and not letting their team down,” Merriman said. “They show up.”

Bringing that competitive aspect makes them bring out what Merriman would call “good pressure”: the good feeling that you need in your life to have patience and be kind to one another.

Parents are the biggest cheerleaders because they are expected to commit their time and energy to the team, too.

For Lambert, this is a new experience for her daughter, who turned 5 this summer, and a commitment for her family as well. The Lambert family has been a part of the Winnersville Elite Cheer & Dance since February.

“This is going to be my daughter’s first full year with Winnersville,” Lambert said. “She came in right out the gate doing tap, jazz, ballet and tumbling classes.”

Lambert expressed that Winnersville Elite Cheer & Dance has been the biggest blessing for her family.

“They have encouraged her to try-out and do the Winnersville Elite dance team. Now, this will be her first time ever competing,” Lambert said. “She has really blossomed.”

All across the gym, visitors can see custom apparel and signs that remind everyone who walks through the doors of Winnersville Elite that it is all about WE not me.

“We love WE. It is a place where it’s not about me, but it is all about we. It’s our motto. We are a family,” Lambert said.

Dedication and clear communication between parents, cheerleaders, dancers and coaches is what creates a successful and happy environment, so all athletes can continue to reach for perfection.

In addition to competitive cheer and dance, Winnersville Elite also offers recreational classes year round in cheer, dance and tumbling. For more information, visit www.winnersvilleelite.com or call (229) 293-9323.

 

LaShaunda Jordan is a reporter with The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1257.