How Liberty Cheer Became Liberty Gymnastics Too- by: Coach Jennifer

In the summer of 2013, Liberty Cheer was breaking ground on a brand-new 20,000 sq. ft. facility in Midlothian. At the very same time, I was looking for a place to start and grow a gymnastics program. The timing couldn’t have been better. Our visions and values aligned, and what began as two separate paths quickly became one shared journey. Liberty was established and had already been open since 2006. This was a perfect fit!

Building on Family Foundations

From the beginning, Liberty has always been rooted in family. Carrie, Ashley and Lyndsey built a business centered on hometown connections and community first. When I joined, I didn’t just start a gymnastics program—I became part of that family.

The “gym family” culture was already strong, and it gave me the opportunity to plant and grow my own branch of Liberty while raising Anna Rose in the most incredible gym environment.

Two Identities, One Home

Cheer and gymnastics are very different sports, with their own cultures, customers, and rhythms. Learning to live under one roof hasn’t always been simple. Every year, our owners and directors take a fresh look at every cheer team, gymnastics team, rec class, and tumble class—starting from scratch to build a schedule that balances it all. It’s a lot of spreadsheets, trial, and error.

Were there bumps along the way? Absolutely. Growth always brings challenges. But those moments—figuring out how to fit, adapt, and adjust—are exactly how Liberty has become stronger. We’ve learned to embrace the best of both worlds while staying true to who we are: one gym, one family.

Character First, Always

From day one, we knew Liberty Gymnastics couldn’t just be about flipping, tumbling, or winning medals. Gymnastics is the vehicle…but character is the destination.

Hard work at Liberty means more than conditioning sets. It’s showing up on tough days and giving your best effort even when no one is watching. Respect isn’t just listening to coaches—it’s treating teammates, judges, and competitors with dignity. Teamwork is about cheering each other on through victories and setbacks, and recognizing that individual success is built on collective support.

Excellence isn’t about perfection—it’s about being better than yesterday. One of our mottos has always been: 1% better each day, each practice, each turn.

Over the years, these values have come to life. Athletes helping teammates with skills. Families stepping up during challenging seasons. Seniors mentoring the next generation. These moments remind us that while State and Regional titles are exciting, the true measure of our program is the kind of people our athletes become.

At Liberty, gymnastics is where skills are taught—but character is where legacies are built.

From 5 Athletes to 200 Strong

When Liberty Gymnastics began, we had just four or five team gymnasts. Today, our program serves more than 200 athletes in gymnastics alone. Some have been with us for over a decade. Some grew up in Liberty Gymnastics, went on to college, and came back to coach.

That’s the legacy we’re most proud of—continuity, connection, and a family that lasts. Along the way, we’ve celebrated countless State and Regional champions. But the real victory is the community we’ve built and the young people we’ve had the privilege to coach.

Liberty Today

Today, Liberty is both cheer and gymnastics—two programs, two personalities, but one heart. Our core values tie us together, and our gym family culture makes us stronger.

Since joining Liberty, I’ve also been able to grow personally and professionally alongside the program. I’ve served as a member of the TAAF Gymnastics Council, the North Texas Gymnastics Professionals Board of Directors, and currently as the Texas USA Gymnastics Xcel Chair. I’m also a voting member of the Texas USA Gymnastics State Administrative Committee and serve on the Gymnastics Association of Texas Board of Directors.

Through these roles, I’ve presented at clinics, judged countless meets across the country, and had the privilege of mentoring coaches and judges who now carry that knowledge into gyms of their own.

All of these opportunities came while building Liberty Gymnastics into what it is today: a thriving program rooted in community, driven by values, and committed to giving athletes a place to grow.

More Than Sport

At Liberty, it’s never been just about the sport. It’s about belonging. It’s about growing. And it’s about building something bigger than ourselves—together. Liberty Cheer & Gymnastics.