Wow. What a week. I am so happy to say that this first week officially back to practices with our teams was so blessed. Monday we started with Mini/Tiny and they did great. The idea of keeping Mini and Tiny together is probably a bit of an unrealistic idea as there’s such a difference in age between 4 year olds and 7 and 8 year olds. However managing how that class is run is an easy feat that we can figure out. We’ve been gaining a lot of interest lately with the preschool age which is exciting to see that age group grow!
Tuesday we had our first practice for our youth age athletes. It’s been many years since Ive head coached a youth team but I can say I genuinely love this age more than I remembered! They are SO eager to learn but they also love to just have fun. And I love keeping cheer fun for them. We had a solid turn out and quite a few who missed the memo about practice who plan to come next week. We are already working with full team back walkovers and one leg stunts from both groups. I can only imagine what they will be accomplishing by competition in November!
Wednesday we didn’t have any cheer but I did a lot of work from home updating our website, getting information together for camp and I also got to grab coffee with a former athlete of mine from nearly 20 years ago who just moved back to the Rogue Valley. It’s really cool how God works, you guys. On the hardest day Ive had in the last couple weeks with all the rebuilding we’ve been doing I got a text out of blue from my former athletes saying she was moving back to the area and was wondering if I needed any volunteer coaching help. My jaw dropped. She had no idea what was going on, she just simply wanted to help coach if she could. Is that cool or what? You all will meet her soon but I can’t wait to introduce you to Coach Stevie. She is a wealth of knowledge having been intrenched in cheer over the years, both competitive high school and All Star. She’s coached at the 6A high school level, the collegiate level up at Willamette University and has been on the Oregon Cheer Coaches Association board as well. Having her in the gym today, meeting the athletes, helping spot (incredibly well by the way!) and also teaching the athletes was not only SO helpful but it felt like, “yes, THIS was meant to be” ♡
Our first official Szn6 senior practice today (post rebuild) was exactly what I prayed for. We had enough athletes for our two stunt groups and they achieved level 3 skills just as I had hoped. It’s so important for them to prove to themselves that they are capable of the level they are striving for. And I am a firm believer that if you can execute strong extended skills and strong dismounts and the team is willing to work hard, you can build upon that and achieve far more than the baseline. The verdict is still out on whether we will compete level 3 or 4. I want to go to camp and see what we can achieve with tumbling. We have so much talent within this team, making a decision this early would do us a disservice. Regardless of whether we get more athletes joining or stay with this 9 or 10 girls, it’s such a strong core group. We practice again on Monday and I cannot wait.
There’s a raw honesty I need to share about running a gym lately, especially because of this rebuilding period. When I’m at the gym, in the thick of a practice with our incredible Rogue kids, I feel completely in my element. It’s a genuine joy, a feeling of being exactly where I’m meant to be.
Lately, though, the “in-between” times have become a different story. The nights before practice, tossing and turning, the constant worrying and wondering – that’s where the real challenge lies. There’s a real heaviness, a grief even, in losing athletes and coaches I adore due to misrepresentations that were outside of my control. Rebuilding a gym, especially under the recent conditions we’ve faced, feels exactly like trying to roll a massive boulder uphill. And as you’re pushing, more boulders seem to come hurtling your way, forcing you to dodge and weave while still trying to stay on course.
It’s a wild analogy, I know, but it truly captures the feeling. And reflecting on this past week, it’s become even clearer to me that I am absolutely not alone in this. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by people I love and who love me back. They’re right there beside me, offering encouragement, praying over me, praying over Rogue, wiping my brow, and even helping to push that boulder. Their support isn’t just appreciated; it’s absolutely vital to saving Rogue through all of this. You know who you are and I love you ♡
And then, practice arrives. When I step onto the practice mat with these amazing Rogue kids, it’s like I finally get to set that boulder down. I get to soak in the scene, appreciate everything we’ve accomplished to get these athletes together to do the sport we love, and truly enjoy the fruits of our collective labor. I will say also, in those hard in-between moments, instead of scrolling on my phone, dwelling on hurt, or laying in bed sad, turning to the Lord has become my go-to. Leaving my phone in my room and doing my bible study, writing out my feelings, being so real and honest with God in how I feel. It’s teaching me a reliance on Him like I’ve never had before. What the enemy meant to use for evil, I see all the good the Lord is doing through it. It’s not easy, but worthwhile things rarely are.
Until next time. Cheerfully, Coach Beck
Entry #1 July 7, 2025
Hi there! If you’re reading this, you’ve found the Rogue Cheer Journal. Im Becky Abbott, owner and founder of Rogue Cheer Athletics, a competitive cheerleading gym in Southern Oregon. I created this space for friends and family who want to stay updated on Rogue’s journey.
As many of you know, we’ve experienced a significant change within our gym over the past couple of months. I shared about that here a few days ago. I want to share an authentic glimpse into the life of a gym owner, which is why I’m journaling about it. I will try to post on here every few days to share what is going on at Rogue Cheer Athletics.
Today, July 7th, marked the first practice for our Mini/Tiny age group after significant changes. These are our pre-k through 3rd grade athletes. We’ve witnessed some athletes depart and others join us, and we have been diligently working to ensure everyone is aware of the new practice schedule and our plans for this season. The turnout was solid—nothing extraordinary, but good considering it’s summer (July typically sees lower attendance due to vacations) and the recent uncertainty surrounding our gym. I’m so grateful that we already demonstrate the resilience of our Rogue family. We are just around 10 days since the announcement of Rogue’s impending closure by former leaders. However, God has already done so much in this short time to begin healing and rebuilding Rogue. While regaining 100 athletes will be a distant goal, much like when we started in 2020, that’s perfectly okay. It’s a tough pill to swallow after years of hard work, but it’s not the main focus. What truly matters is that kids have a nurturing environment to engage in cheer, supported by coaches who care about them regardless of skill level, cheer experience, personality, or disability. Cheerleading serves as a powerful vehicle to teach life lessons; we develop vital life skills, form friendships, gain mentors, and build a community through this sport. While that could apply to any sport, there’s something uniquely special about competitive cheer and the way we’ve done it at Rogue. Im not tooting my own horn either, Ive failed many times and will continue to make mistakes. But God has done incredible things through Rogue and that I will not be quiet about! Of course, challenges arise, and we must weather through the storms of life, but these experiences will ultimately make us stronger and more reliant on the Lord in the long run.
Anywho, enough of my tangent…back to the week ahead… We have our Youth Stunt & Games practice tomorrow, followed by Senior Stunt & Games practice on Thursday. These practices are for our two competitive teams: Senior Renegades (18U, level 3 or 4) and Youth Wranglers (12U, level 2). We began last week with just a handful of dedicated athletes, and now we have enough for two stunt groups for both teams. That’s significant and we are SO thankful to the Lord as He’s led us every. single. day. I’m genuinely thrilled about the athletes involved too. Competing at the levels mentioned is entirely within reach for these kids, given their determination and grit. In my 19 years of coaching, I’ve learned that the most important ingredient for a successful team is a great group of kids who truly love the sport, have a team mindset and a coach who is eager to help them realize their potential.
I am so beyond excited about the journey ahead for these teams. Our plan is to take the Senior Renegades to Dream Camp at the end of July, with about 9 athletes able to attend (comprised of former S3 and S4 team members) and possibly more who are interested/returning to Rogue.
I also want to note, I am not at all afraid of competing with a team of 9 if that’s what it came down to. I’ve seen small teams win in many divisions over the years. When we are talking about majority and numbers for skills, tumbling, jumps etc..smaller IS better. Especially when every athlete on the team has a team mindset and a strong work ethic. With all that being said, I firmly believe that camp is incredibly important, and Dream Camp, in particular, stands out among the camps I’ve attended, including NCA, UCA, and USA. While those camps have their stregnths, I have found Dream Camps excel in providing the expertise and knowledge necessary for competitive teams at all levels. Plus, we have the chance to work with some of the best cheerleaders in the world (from Team USA, TVCC, Weber etc)—not just in a superficial meet-and-greet, but in a way that shows genuine investment in the athletes, whether they’re learning a level 1 skill or tackling a level 6 skill. I don’t mention this because I’m sponsored or anything either lol; I genuinely love the experiences we’ve had at Dream Camps over the past few years, and I cannot wait to share this valuable opportunity with our SZN6 senior kids.
And for those who may not know, “Szn6” refers to Season Six, marking our 6th year since Rogue’s inception in 2020. Recently, many friends—including former athletes, cheer parents, and fellow coaches from other gyms—have reached out to ask how Rogue is doing. This outpouring of love and concern inspired me to start this Journal as a testament to the commitment you had to our gym, a place you once called home. I’ve heard many of you asking, “What can I do to help?” and “How can I help Rogue continue?” Your dedication to our little gym, which began in a church that was nearly forgotten just ten days ago, truly touches my heart. In a few months, Rogue Renegades and Rogue Wranglers (and Buckaroos shortly after) will be back on the competition floor, shining under those bright lights and making each of you proud. If it is the Lord’s will for Rogue to thrive, we will embrace that journey, saying “YES” even when it feels difficult, heart-wrenching, or daunting. Rogue is worth the risk ♡
ROGUE CHEER ATHLETICS 