More Than Cheerleading: Building Leaders, Faith, and Family at Liberty

By Coach Carrie

“Liberty has always been His plan, not just mine, and I’m grateful every day that He trusted me to steward this space for the athletes and families we serve.”

When people think of cheerleading, they often picture the sparkle — the rhinestones, the bows, the bright lights. And while I love all of that, the truth is that cheer is so much more than what you see on the surface. Beneath the glitter is something powerful - something life-changing. It’s discipline. It’s teamwork. It’s heart. And it’s a level of dedication that pushes kids to discover just how strong they really are.

At Liberty, Cheerleading Is More Than a Sport

It’s a place where kids grow into leaders. It’s a second home where they feel safe, supported, and seen. It’s a family that celebrates hard work, perseverance, and loyalty - the kind that builds not only strong athletes but strong humans.

Strength, Grit, and Growth

Cheerleaders are some of the hardest-working athletes you will ever meet. Every lift, every toss, every stunt is built on trust and strength. Bases learn how to stabilize and protect their teammates with power and precision. Flyers learn to control their bodies in the air with balance, flexibility, and confidence. And every athlete learns how to work together to make something bigger than themselves happen - because nothing in cheer is done alone.

Our routines are two and a half minutes of intensity — cardio, endurance, timing, and strength all rolled into one. It’s not just about looking sharp; it’s about performing under pressure and doing it with excellence. And none of that happens by accident. It happens because our athletes train several hours a week, attend extra practices and boot camps, take tumbling classes and private lessons, and give their all to become the best version of themselves.

Building Skills — and Confidence

We are deeply committed to developing every athlete’s skills — not just for the season ahead, but for their future in the sport. That’s why we offer free stretch classes for our flyers through November, because flexibility, balance, and body control are essential for their growth. After that, our advanced flyer classes focus on higher-level flying skills and are offered at a fraction of the cost you’d find elsewhere. We do this because we believe in removing barriers to growth and creating opportunities for every child to succeed.

Our progression tumbling program is also included in tuition until November, giving athletes months of training that lay the foundation for advanced skills later. After that, we expand practices and offer more opportunities to grow through additional classes and lessons — because preparation is everything. We believe that when you prepare fully, success follows.

A Place Where Every Athlete Matters

One of the things I am most proud of at Liberty is that every single child who walks through our doors is more than just a number. We know their names — and sometimes even give them nicknames (that stick forever!) We know their personalities, their goals, their fears, and what motivates them. And we care deeply about all of it.

We want every athlete to feel like this is their second home — a place where they are valued, supported, and safe to grow. That sense of belonging is at the heart of everything we do, because when athletes feel seen and important, they thrive. They push harder. They believe in themselves. And they understand that they are part of something bigger than themselves.

Loyalty That Builds Champions

Loyalty is a word we use often around here, and for good reason. When athletes grow up together in the same program, they develop a trust and bond that you simply can’t replicate overnight. They know each other’s strengths, how to support one another, and how to work as one unit. That’s what makes a great team — not just skills, but the connection that forms when you commit to something together.

That’s why we work so hard to build a culture where athletes want to stay and grow. Because the longer they are here, the more we understand them as individuals — and the more we can help them reach their full potential. Loyalty, consistency, and time together transform good teams into great ones. And at Liberty, that’s exactly what we’re building.

A Winning Mindset

We teach our athletes that success isn’t an accident — it’s the result of preparation, hard work, and belief. We don’t approach competition with the idea that losing is an option. Our athletes train with intention. They know what’s expected of them, and they know that when they step on the mat, they are prepared to deliver their best. Mistakes happen — that’s part of growth — but we are never unprepared. Cheer teaches kids that if they believe in themselves, trust their teammates, and commit fully, winning isn’t just possible — it’s achievable. That winning mindset carries over into every part of their lives, long after the music stops and the lights go down.

How Cheer Shaped My Family Too

This sport hasn’t just shaped the athletes I coach — it’s shaped my own family. I’ve been married since November 1997, and in those years, my husband — a former Marine — has supported me every step of the way as I poured my heart into building this business alongside my sisters. Discipline has always been a cornerstone in our home, and it’s something we’ve passed down to our children — because we believe it’s the foundation for success in anything they do.

Above all, my faith in Jesus Christ has been the foundation of everything we’ve built. I would not be where I am today without His hand guiding me. There were seasons when this dream felt impossible — when doors closed, plans changed, and I questioned how it would all come together — but God always made a way. He placed the right people in my life, provided strength when I felt empty, and reminded me that this calling was bigger than me. Liberty has always been His plan, not just mine, and I’m grateful every day that He trusted me to steward this space for the athletes and families we serve.

Two of my children grew up in this program and one watched me help build this business. They learned the value of teamwork, accountability, and perseverance on the mat. They learned that hard work and commitment open doors. And they took those lessons into their lives beyond cheer.

My daughter, Chloe is now the assistant director here at Liberty and an incredible coach who pours her heart into every athlete she works with. She builds deep relationships with our kids, sees them for who they are, and coaches with a mix of compassion and high expectations that makes them believe in themselves.

My youngest daughter, Mia recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma and is a natural leader with unstoppable drive — a determination shaped by her years in All-Star Cheerleading. She was also deeply involved in her college sorority, where she continued to grow as a leader and teammate.

And my son, Sammy is graduating from Texas State University this December. He, too, knows what hard work truly means — something my husband and I have always instilled in him. He’s watched me and partners build Liberty from the ground up, and he understands the dedication, sacrifice, and strength it takes to make a dream a reality.

I’ve watched cheerleading mold all three of them into leaders in their own ways. And I believe that’s one of the greatest gifts this sport gives — it doesn’t just shape athletes; it shapes people.

More Than a Sport — It’s a Family

For over 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of coaching athletes — and in that time, I’ve learned that this is about so much more than cheerleading. It’s about watching kids walk into the gym shy and uncertain and watching them grow into strong, confident leaders. It’s about seeing teammates become lifelong friends. It’s about being part of the small moments — the breakthroughs, the first skills, the hugs after a great performance — that add up to something truly extraordinary. And it’s also about standing together through the hard moments, too — the disappointments, the setbacks, even the heartbreak of a tough loss — and realizing that those experiences shape us just as much as the victories. Through it all, we grow stronger, more resilient, and more connected as a family.

This program has always been about heart. About building a place where every child feels important and valued. About creating a second home where they know they belong. And about helping them believe that they are capable of anything they’re willing to work for.

We love the glitter — but that’s not what makes this sport special. What makes it special is the transformation that happens inside every athlete who steps onto our mat. It’s the trust they build, the lessons they learn, and the strength they discover within themselves.

And through it all, I give all the glory to Jesus Christ, because none of this would exist without Him. Every success story, every lesson learned, every life touched here is a reflection of His grace and purpose. My prayer has always been that Liberty would be more than a gym — that it would be a place where His love is felt the moment you walk through the doors. I hope that the way we coach, the way we care for our athletes, and the way we stand together as a family reflects the heart of Christ. This has always been His work, and I’m just grateful to be part of it.

For 20 years, Liberty has been more than a cheer gym — it’s been a family. And every single athlete who walks through our doors is part of that story.

— Coach Carrie