Yorkville Pups, All-Stars Have New Practice Space

Spirit Cheerleading held the grand opening for its new facility in Yorkville on Sunday.

The space at 125 W. Wheaton Ave. will be used by the Yorkville Pups, a recreational team in the Spirit Cheerleading network. It also will be home to the new Spirit All Star teams.

Currently, Spirit Cheerleading has eight teams from Yorkville, Sandwich, Plano, Somonauk, Seneca, Coal City and Wilmington.  After two years the nonprofit organization made the decision to form the more-competitive all-star teams.

Kristy Abney, the director of the all-star team, said the group was also formed based on demand from girls cheering on the recreational teams. 

“We have girls who want to take it to the next level,” she said.  “I started Spirit Cheerleading from scratch and now we have over 350 kids.  I love seeing 350 girls do well.”

The eight current recreational teams do some in-house competition but the all-star team will compete with other teams from around Illinois and surrounding states.  Girls can still be involved in a recreational team while competing with the all-stars, but the all-star team requires a bigger time and monetary commitment.

All-stars will learn advanced stunting and attend choreography camps, as well as practice four hours a week versus the one hour required by the recreational teams.

“We have no idea what is entailed,” said Nisa Staggs, the Yorkville location manager.

Tryouts for the all-star team will be held Thursday.

Crystal Cavey’s 9-year-old daughter, Victoria, has been on the Yorkville Pups for the last year and will be trying out for the all-star team.

“She loves it,” Cavey said  “She’s said no matter what else she does she will not give up the Pups.

“I looked into Spirit and it was like ‘Oh yeah, we’re in.' It’s family oriented, the girls have fun and it’s designed for them to learn.”

Many of the volunteers behind Spirit Cheerleading also have children in the program. Jeannie Norman, one of the all-star coaches, also has a daughter cheering with Spirit.    

“Everyone’s extremely dedicated,” she said.  “This is really exciting.” 

Spirit Cheerleading is open to any child in kindergarten through eighth grade and no experience is required for the recreational teams. 

“Anyone can join and everyone gets a trophy,” Abney said.

The all-star teams will require more athletic ability and experience.

Registration for the recreational teams is open now.  For more information see the Spirit Cheerleading website.