ROGUE CHEER ATHLETICS

Dear Rogue Cheer Athletics Family, Friends, and Followers 
I write this in response to a number of allegations made about myself from a small number of people in the Southern Oregon cheer community. My intention is not to attack or damage the reputation of others, but simply to defend my own character. The hope is that the reader will see my sincerity and, if in doubt, reach out to me personally. I continue to pray for guidance and compassion in my dealings with others, and for discernment and wisdom in others as they hear things about me. I would ask those in the cheer community to reject sensational claims, giving due skepticism to both sides of any perceived conflict. 

Embezzlement Claim
In June of 2025, I was asked by the previous board of Rogue Cheer Athletics Collective to step down as president and owner. Upon my departure, I was asked to provide all bank statements, correspondence and information in regard to the non-profit (which did not have non-profit status at that point but was in the process). I carefully itemized the new bank account which had been set up and sent it in good faith. During this time, my husband had been unemployed due to layoffs in his industry, and we were in danger of losing our home and vehicles. I had used Rogue money temporarily to avoid this and to order groceries occasionally. While this would have been perfectly fine from an LLC (most people intend to make a profit with their business, I’ve only rarely used it as needed to support my family), the waters were muddied due to the non-profit – despite the fact that it was not approved yet. These expenses were never hidden and the treasurer had access to the non-profit bank account at every point.

Tax Exempt Misinformation
A small number of people have claimed that I misled parents about Rogue’s status as a tax entity. I will be clear about this: sponsorships given to athletes by companies can and have been tax deductible. I have helped facilitate this deduction for business by including them on public-facing sponsorship material so that they could write contributions off as promotion or advertising. This is very common in both public and private sports programs. The terms “tax-deductible” and “tax-exempt” are not interchangeable, and I do not use the latter in sponsorship activity. I have been careful not to use the latter, even when the non-profit was being spun up, because it never officially attained that status. While I cannot guarantee what language was used as parents sought sponsorships from the community, I have not misled anybody about Rogue’s tax status.

Statements of investigation with the Dept. of Justice (DOJ)
Beginning in late July of 2025, there were several complaints filed against myself and my affiliation to my business within a few days to a week of each other. These complaints can be made without any burden of proof by any person with the desire to do so. However, all complaints were closed within days by the DOJ and referred to local law enforcement which is standard practice and does not indicate guilt or investigation. I verified this myself by looking it up on the DOJ website, which is open to the public. Since these complaints were closed in early August, I have had no contact from law enforcement and I have no knowledge of an investigation concerning myself.

Statements/Reviews of Rogue’s Character 
Beginning roughly three months ago, there have been several profiles created to write bad reviews of Rogue since the departure of previous coaches. Some of these accounts are of persons I have never known to me or to Rogue. Rogue Cheer Athletics has a no-refund policy within our Code of Conduct addressing funds and rescinding from participating at any given time from the season. This is because funds are directly used for gym expenses, competition fees, uniforms, gear, etc. Such refund policies are common in cheer gyms, and in fact mine was adapted from others I have seen. I have arranged in the past for certain situations to be refunded in installments, but that money comes out of my own personal funds and takes from my family as Rogue’s funds are used as stated previously. Previous coaches have known about and supported my refund policy verbally, and “payment in full” has always been optional. My refund policy was always clearly stated in easy-to-understand language in a signed waiver. Unfortunately, one parent took this to small claims court. After repeated attempts at mediation, my refund policy was denied and I was given a month to repay, which I did. This stemmed from a dispute prior to Rogue’s dissolution and has now been completely resolved. 

I created and established Rogue to be a place for every athlete to thrive in the world of non-affiliated competitive athletics regardless of financial standing. My long history of providing scholarships testifies to this and should carry just as much weight as the allegations of a handful of people. I have invested a significant amount of capital into Rogue from its beginnings over five years ago – including inheritance money from my parents’ passing in 2021. I did this because I noticed a need in Southern Oregon for high-level cheer opportunities that didn’t require a second mortgage. I did not start Rogue to make a profit, and in fact have invested far more than I have gained from it over the years.

Rogues’ Business Licensing 
In our previous location, I was registered under Rogue Cheer Athletics LLC and held permits for that location. Upon securing the new location, the City of Medford was requiring a ‘Change of Use’ permit to maintain this licensure – a requirement that several people (architects and property brokers) have told me makes no sense in my context as a Change of Use permit is typically only required if you plan to change anything structurally within your chosen location (or you are not zoned correctly which is not my situation). I had to put in a request for the building’s blueprints, which took several emails to obtain, after being told that they initially did not possess them. I was told to track down the original engineer from 15 years ago (who is unfortunately bedridden and in poor health). I was initially told to get his signature but refused to disturb an elderly man in his home with fragile health – they settled with a verbal confirmation over the phone. I was then told to complete a Code Analysis for the building which would cost an inordinate amount of money. Again, after going back and forth with the building department, it became clear that much more was being asked than was appropriate. Luckily, a parent with significant experience in asset management has helped step in and the process has been clarified. I am working closely with the building department now to wrap up the final steps. This too can be confirmed with the City of Medford licensing department.

Final thoughts
I have sought God’s guidance and wisdom, maintained my integrity, grace, and a clear conscience, while responding to these ongoing allegations. I know the truth and have multiple witnesses to these truths. I trust in God’s ultimate vindication, and I have been praying for my accusers and these acts to subside. I have been praying for our athletes to have a healthy season competing, traveling, and representing Rogue Cheer Athletics.  

“For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit.” – Psalm 35:20 

I invite and encourage parents and athletes to reach out to me with any questions and concerns that they may have. Just as in James 1:5 states, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking,” I will also not rebuke you for asking for my truths. I have faith that this will all work out for Rogue, and we will be able to co-exist with other gyms as we have been and we will continue to walk by faith, not by sight.  

Cheerfully and Sincerely,
Becky Abbott
Rogue Cheer Athletics owner & founder
written December 8, 2025