Cheer Squads Cap the Season with Top Finishes at National US Finals

Both of Gem City’s all-star cheer squads traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, on April 11, 2026, to compete at U.S. Finals. The Gem City Phoenix earned 2^nd place with a score of 93.885, and the Gem City Diamonds closed out their season with a 4^th place finish and a score of 93.2282.

For the Phoenix, the road to Louisville included a real test of team resilience. Two alternates stepped into the routine just a few weeks before nationals, and the squad had to rebuild chemistry and timing on a compressed schedule. That kind of disruption can unravel a team, but the Phoenix responded by pulling together and trusting the work they had put in all season. To earn a 2^nd place finish on the national stage under those circumstances speaks to the depth of commitment across the entire roster.

The Diamonds, meanwhile, made their own statement in Louisville. This was the youngest youth squad we’ve ever fielded, which makes a 4^th place finish at nationals all the more notable. Competing on a stage that big requires poise that goes beyond age, and this group showed it. We also want to thank our cheering section — our athletes thrive when they hear their people in the crowd, and the energy from our families and supporters in Louisville made a difference.

This meet also marks a bittersweet moment for our program. Several Phoenix members are graduating or aging out of the squad. We’ll miss them and wish them the very best in whatever comes next.

The senior level 2 elite squad is coached by Hope Huff and Ashley Schralla. The youth level 1 elite squad is coached by Rylee Mellon and Christian Klingele. You can read more about our all star cheer program here.

Results

• Gem City Phoenix (Senior Level 2 Elite) – 2^nd Place, US Finals Louisville 2026 (Score: 93.885)
• Gem City Diamonds (Youth Level 1 Elite) – 4^th Place, US Finals Louisville 2026 (Score: 93.2282)

What a way to close out the season. We’re proud of every athlete who represented Gem City on the national stage — you showed what this program is all about.