Here 4 Cheer

What do you want your team to accomplish at its next practice? In this solo episode of Here 4 Cheer, Megan Gomarlo shares how she plans cheer practices that build confidence, keep athletes engaged, and prepare teams for competition.
Megan covers how to set measurable goals, give athletes a say in the practice plan, and turn drills into games that still get the reps in. She also shares how to close practice with teammate shout-outs and use missed reps to decide what to work on next. Whether you coach high school or all-star cheer, you’ll leave with ideas you can try at your very next practice.
Coaches, what’s one thing you do to keep practice fun and focused? Share it in the comments, and subscribe to Here 4 Cheer for more conversations about coaching and team culture.
#Here4Cheer #CheerCoaching #Cheerleading

What does it take to build a team that keeps getting better—even after winning championships?
Tony Nash joins Megan Gomarlo to talk about coaching all-girl cheer, building winning cultures, and the pressure of representing Team USA. From his experiences at Morehead State and Indiana University to coaching on the world stage, Tony shares why talent alone isn’t enough—and why one of his favorite routines was a loss.
We discuss:• What separates great athletes from elite competitors• Why winning teams need more than five-star talent• Helping athletes handle rejection and earn their place• Training focus by creating distractions in practice• Letting other coaches into your process• How fatherhood shapes the lessons he teaches through sports
An honest conversation about leadership, accountability, creativity, and helping athletes discover what they’re capable of.
#Here4Cheer #TonyNash #Cheerleading #USACheer #CheerCoaching

Winning routines are only part of the story. What does it really take to build a successful cheer gym—and keep it thriving?
Megan Gomarlo sits down with Casey Jones of Stingray Allstars and Stacy Rowe and Sean Timmons of Premier Athletics for an honest conversation about the business behind all-star cheerleading. They share the risks, hard lessons, relationships, and leadership decisions that shaped their careers—and why helping other gyms succeed matters to the future of the sport.
In this episode:• The financial realities of running a cheer gym• Hiring coaches for character, communication, and a willingness to learn• Building a culture where every team feels valued• Learning to delegate and finding a life outside the gym• How parents influence team culture• Bringing the industry together through community and the Nova Awards
Whether you’re a gym owner, coach, parent, or athlete considering a career in cheer, this conversation offers a look beyond the competition floor.
What do you think makes a great gym culture? Tell us in the comments, and subscribe to Here 4 Cheer for more conversations with the people shaping our sport.
#Here4Cheer #AllStarCheer #Cheerleading #GymOwners #CheerCoaching

What makes a Senior Elite athlete—and why can losing be the very thing that builds a championship team?
Cheer Extreme’s Courtney Smith-Pope joins Megan Gomarlo on Here 4 Cheer for a candid conversation about the work, heart, and sisterhood behind Senior Elite. From what actually happens at practice to the moment a struggling team starts believing it can win Worlds, Courtney shares what decades of coaching have taught her about building something that lasts.
We talk about:• Inside Senior Elite practices: structure, accountability, and competition• Why heart and a team-first attitude matter beyond skills• Turning setbacks into championship confidence• Coaching your own children—and knowing when to be Mom• What cheer parents need to hear about long-term development• Building a successful program with one floor in a small town• Senior Elite’s music, storytelling, and new routine• What all-star cheer risks losing as the sport evolves
Whether you’re an athlete, coach, gym owner, or cheer parent, this conversation offers a look beyond the trophies at the relationships that make a team.
What’s one lesson from Courtney you’d bring into your own gym? Tell us in the comments, and subscribe to Here 4 Cheer for more conversations with the people shaping the sport.
#CourtneySmithPope #SeniorElite #CheerExtreme #Here4Cheer #AllStarCheer

From coaching at her former high school to representing the USA on the world stage, Chelsea Hatcher is opening doors for the next generation of cheerleaders.
In this episode of Here 4 Cheer, Megan Gomarlo sits down with Hudson High School head coach and U.S. National Junior Coed coach Chelsea Hatcher to discuss building a championship program—and the relationships, grit, and trust behind its success.
Chelsea shares how she recruits athletes who have never cheered, helps students find college opportunities, and gives her team a voice in the process. They also explore overcoming disappointing seasons, protecting athletes from burnout, and keeping cheer fun amid the pressure of social media.
Plus, hear about Hudson’s unforgettable team traditions and the unexpected challenges behind Team USA’s Pan Am gold in Mexico City.
Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or parent, this conversation offers a reminder of how much a caring coach can change a young person’s future.
Subscribe to Here 4 Cheer for more conversations with the people shaping cheerleading.
#Here4Cheer #ChelseaHatcher #Cheerleading #HudsonCheer #CoedCheer #TeamUSA #CheerCoach

A gold medal is only part of the story. 🇺🇸🥇
In this solo episode of Here 4 Cheer, Megan Gomarlo shares her top 10 reasons for gratitude after traveling to Mexico City to watch her daughter, Kingslee, compete with USA Cheer’s Junior Coed National Team at the Pan American Championships.
From international friendships and support back home to unexpected injuries and a gold-medal finish, Megan reflects on the people and moments that made this trip unforgettable—and the joy of stepping out of her role as a coach and gym owner to simply be a cheer mom.
It’s a heartfelt conversation about community, resilient athletes, meaningful coaching, and making time for memories with the people you love.
What experience has cheer brought into your life that you’re most grateful for? Share in the comments!
#Here4Cheer #USACheer #TeamUSA #Cheerleading #CheerMom

Nationally recognized choreographer, educator and former Cheer Athletics All-Star Director John Knowles joins Megan on Here 4 Cheer for an incredibly honest conversation about leadership, culture, communication, athlete buy-in and what it really takes to build successful teams.
John shares lessons from more than 15 years at Cheer Athletics, including how he learned to lead staff, build trust with athletes and parents, create competitive team cultures, and motivate coaches and athletes beyond wins and losses.
He also gets candid about the mistakes that shaped him as a coach — from learning when to stop criticizing every rep to understanding parents differently after becoming one himself. One of his biggest lessons? Athletes can tell when their coach is truly invested in the journey with them.
John also takes us inside That Cheer School, the coaching community he created to share the systems, practice strategies, choreography tools and resources he developed throughout his career.
In this episode:• Building trust between coaches, athletes and parents  • Creating genuine athlete buy-in  • Developing and motivating coaching staffs  • Why coaches need to explain the “why”  • Creating value for yourself as a coach  • Balancing accountability with confidence  • Lessons learned at Cheer Athletics  • Why great coaches never stop learning  • The story behind That Cheer School  • Why sometimes the thing that scares you is exactly what you should run toward
Whether you're a gym owner, coach, athlete or cheer parent, this conversation is packed with ideas you can immediately bring back to your program.
#Here4Cheer #Cheerleading #AllStarCheer #CheerCoach #CheerAthletics #JohnKnowles #CheerCoaching #AllStarCheerleading #CheerLife #ThatCheerSchool

University of South Florida All Girl head coach Sandy Clarke joins Megan on Here 4 Cheer to talk about the mindset, grit, leadership, and authenticity that helped transform USF All Girl into one of the most recognized programs in college cheerleading.
Sandy shares why USF continues to embrace the tryout process, why athletes need to own their college cheer journey, and what she has learned through both winning and losing. She also opens up about coaching alongside her husband Layton, raising a family immersed in cheerleading, developing leaders without naming captains, and creating a culture where three competition teams still operate as one team.
With five national titles in four years, Sandy knows what winning looks like—but some of her biggest lessons have come from the years they didn't win.
From “sometimes you win, sometimes you learn” to being unapologetically different, this conversation goes far beyond hitting a routine. It’s about building athletes, developing people, and creating something bigger than yourself.
#Here4Cheer #Cheerleading #CollegeCheer #USFCheer #USFAllGirl #CheerCoach #CheerleadingCoach #CollegeCheerleading #CheerCulture #ChampionshipMindset #CheerLife #UCACollegeNationals #CheerAthlete #TeamCulture #USFBulls

Brantley Jittu’s journey in cheerleading is about so much more than competition.
From discovering all-star cheer as a six-year-old to becoming a respected choreographer, coach, consultant, and business owner, Brantley has built his career around helping others believe in themselves and reach their potential.
In this episode of Here 4 Cheer with Megan Gomarlo, Brantley opens up about growing up as a male cheerleader in the South, facing bullying and death threats simply for being himself, and learning to embrace who he was and what he loved.
He also shares the lessons that shaped him as a leader—including the advice from his childhood coach that taught him, “not everybody’s journey is the same” and that you can accomplish more by inspiring people than by tearing them down.
Brantley and Megan also dive into:
• Building a career in the cheer industry• The importance of mentorship and developing the next generation• Leadership and creating a positive gym culture• The business side of running a successful cheer program• Why gyms need to invest in training, choreography, music, and athletes—not just appearances• Helping coaches, gym owners, judges, and choreographers grow• Brantley’s vision for making cheer a place where people can believe in themselves and find their place
At the heart of the conversation is Brantley’s belief that success isn't just about winning. It's about opening doors for other people and creating an impact that continues long after you're gone.
This is a conversation about courage, leadership, purpose, and the power of cheer to change lives.
#Here4Cheer #BrantleyJittu #Cheerleading #AllStarCheer #CheerCoach #CheerleadingPodcast #CheerIndustry #CheerLeadership #GymOwners #CheerBusiness

In this short episode of Here 4 Cheer, Megan Gomarlo explores the idea of the “domestique”—a cyclist whose job is to support a teammate, sacrifice their own opportunity to win, and help someone else succeed.
Megan connects that idea to cheerleading and asks us to recognize the athletes, coaches, staff, and teammates who quietly make everyone around them better.
From arriving early and staying late to giving up the spotlight, bringing energy, supporting teammates, and stepping into whatever role the team needs, these are the people who embody “we over me.”
Megan also shares three practical ways coaches can celebrate these teammates in practice:
• The Empty Chair• The Invisible Teammate• The “I Saw You” Circle
It’s a short episode, but an important reminder: great teams aren’t built only by stars—they’re built by people who help others rise.
#Here4Cheer #Cheerleading #CheerCoach #CheerleadingCoach #TeamCulture #Leadership #Teamwork #YouthSports #CheerLife #MeganGomarlo