DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB)- On Monday, April 14, Cheer Leads Elite of Douglas, Georgia, traveled to one of cheerleading’s largest competitions in Orlando, Florida.

Janiyah Clemmons, Cheer Athlete said, “I’m very excited our team has worked very hard to get to where we are now and world’s is a big thing to us…we’re ready to win!”

Cheer Leads Elite Competition Team was developed by Douglas native and former cheerleader, Shasmine Thomas. She was inspired to give cheer athletes the space to develop skills and focus on academics.

Thomas said, “When I was growing up we didn’t really didn’t have anything like this to help progress and grow us into amazing cheerleaders and letting college be the goal, we really didn’t get that opportunity so I wanted to give back to the community and give back to young girls all over.”

Since 2020, the team has grown from practicing outside to now practicing in their own gym and offering training for male athletes.

This is the first year the team was invited to Allstar World’s.

“Getting this Allstar World’s bid event, it’s just a true testament of trusting God and trusting the process and eventually you will get to walk in your true purpose and true calling,” she said.

That purpose is what inspires these young athletes to practice hard and compete week by week.

Maliyah Shelton, Cheer Athlete said, “I feel like when people say ‘cheer,’ they just see the cute bows but you learn a lot of valuable life lessons that you can take with you.”

“People that are like family to me. I’ve had so many great experiences, so many wins. I just love this program,” Andre Brewton, Cheer Athlete, said.

Cheer Leads Elite will compete on Tuesday, April 15, and Wednesday, April 16.

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