Hi all! I wanted to jump on here and update our Rogue friends on what we’ve been up to. Ive been slacking on a new journal entry simply because we have been so busy! Between cheer and both my son’s having late July birthdays, it’s been a little crazy but I am finally getting on here to update the Rogue Journal 🙂
I am thrilled to share that we did make it to Dream Camp around 2 weeks ago, and it was truly incredible. Camp often stands out as one of the most memorable aspects of a cheer season, yet it can also be emotional, challenging, and sometimes overwhelming. It’s enjoyable, but it resembles a boot camp in many respects. Reflecting on my journey, I’ve probably attended around 16-18 cheer camps over the years, and each time, there are tears, drama, and someone feeling the weight of exhaustion or homesickness. These feelings are perfectly understandable, as the experience can push anyone to their limits, especially at Dream Camp. It’s a tremendous amount of hard work, and our athletes always strive to make the most of their time with the instructors, particularly when tackling their most challenging skills. What made the camp week before last truly special was that I didn’t witness any of those common struggles among our athletes. Coach Stevie and I were genuinely amazed—our athletes consistently performed so well. They bonded beautifully, avoided conflicts, and embraced every session with unwavering effort, ultimately accomplishing more skills than anticipated. The best part was the joy we shared as a team, truly bonding in ways that felt heartwarming. I witnessed older athletes connecting with younger ones, forming trust that seemed to grow just like our own bond as coaches with the team, allowing us to reveal our true selves beyond just coaching roles. All I can express is that this time felt like a divine blessing. We’ve all faced such a tough journey after the challenges that hit Rogue in late June. It was a relief to see the team genuinely happy to do their sport together and experience the success of meeting goals with their stunting and tumbling! The lingering doubts in our minds, especially after the threat of Rogue’s end loomed so close, made this moment even more significant. We’ve been told we wouldn’t succeed and that trying was pointless. This camp stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of our Rogue athletes and the dedication of our coaches. I couldn’t be prouder of the collective effort that made this possible, and the success we achieved feels like the sweetest culmination of our hard work.
After spending the last few nights editing, I’m so excited to share the first episode of our Dream Camp vlog. Even with the limited footage I managed to capture, I really wanted to create something that would show off how incredible camp was for us. My husband, Tony, has already heard my not-so-subtle hints about wanting a new vlogging camera gadget that connects to my phone for my birthday this month. While creating content and managing social media can be a lot of work, I genuinely love having a creative way to showcase what our gym is all about and a way to celebrate our athlete’s accomplishments and hard work they have been putting in.
As August unfolds, our teams are gearing up for an exciting competitive season ahead. The Wrangers, Renegades, and Rogue Spirit Squad are starting their cheer schedules this week, which will carry us through the season into winter and spring. The Tiny and Mini teams will stay combined until the end of August, after which they will split into two separate teams starting in September. We will be doing competition choreography this month or early next month and competing in 97ISH DAYS!!!! The countdown is already on! Let’s freaking go!!!
I’m genuinely excited to share that we’ve welcomed two amazing tumbling coaches on board, with classes kicking off this week and next! While some have asked why we need two tumbling instructors, I truly believe that two coaches can offer more than one, providing our athletes with diverse perspectives and tailored guidance. This setup will reduce downtime and keep our athletes engaged, enabling them to fully concentrate on their tumbling skills. During my search for a new tumbling coach for Rogue, my aim was to find a duo who could effectively work together, especially at the intermediate and advanced levels. After tons of searching, praying and a few dead ends, I feel incredibly blessed that the Lord guided us to two skilled gymnasts who not only bring considerable coaching experience but also possess a warm and approachable demeanor, which I believe is essential in coaching. I can’t wait for our Rogue athletes—and those joining us from outside—to work with Coach Kayden and Coach Hailey, helping them elevate their skills to new heights! Personally, I’m also eager for my daughter, Clara Jo, to start tumbling with these fantastic coaches as she strives gain her back handspring this season. The journey to find the right tumbling instructors has been a challenging one amid the changes we’ve faced at Rogue, but I’m relieved and overjoyed to start on this new chapter with Coach Kayden and Coach Hailey. I truly believe our community will embrace them and learn so much from their expertise!
The clock is hitting 2 a.m., an hour when my brain, for better or worse, is most alive. What started as a simple promo flyer for the website spiraled into a full-blown redesign, and now here I am, finally updating this journal lol. This post isn’t meant to be a brag, and it’s definitely not a “look how good we’re doing” kind of update. I feel it’s important to clarify that because I, for one, am tired of that kind of fake positivity that seems to be everywhere. This is simply an honest look at where we are. Things are far from perfect, and this week has been a testament to that. Alongside incredible blessings, there’s been deep loss and more tears this week than the week previously. Coming to terms with losing athletes and friends has been heartbreaking. This division, which feels like a messy divorce, has taken a toll on all of us. I never would have wished this kind of pain on any of my former athletes or their families. It’s simply the truth, and sometimes, the only way forward is to be honest about the messiness.
I’ve gotten questions from parents asking if an athlete who has gone to another gym would be accepted back at Rogue next season. My answer is, of course. I know that everyone who has either chosen to stay at Rogue, go elsewhere, or take a season off is doing their best with the information they have. I know how confusing and complicated it all feels, and I don’t blame anyone for making any specific decision about their next steps. Do I wish that I had specific athletes still here at Rogue because I love and adore them and truly believe they belong on our teams? Yes, a resounding yes, and my heart does break over this. But I don’t harbor anything negative toward the athletes who have chosen a different path. In fact, I love those kids and I hope what they do next is so fulfilling and wonderful.
Life, in its truest form, is already complicated enough. We don’t need to add to the difficulties by living from a place of spite or fear. I’m learning to let go of that way of thinking, to choose a different path. It’s about finding grace in the moments where it’s easier to hold a grudge and choosing to be courageous even when it’s uncomfortable. Maybe the best thing we can do is simply be a source of good—a small light in the messiness of it all. What if we all focused on building a life defined by love and connection instead of by what we fear losing? It’s worth trying, right? ♡ Until next time, Cheerfully, Coach Beck
ROGUE CHEER ATHLETICS 