As I approach my 40th time around the sun, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible opportunities cheerleading has given me. Everything in life seems to come full circle, and this weekend is one of those moments. I have the honor of being the celebrity guest judge for The Spirit Network’s Marquee Main Event in San Diego, and it feels like coming home.
The event is packed with some of the most influential figures in the industry—Kali Seitzer, Eric Little, Morton Bergue, Becky Herrera, Victor and Kristin Rosario—just to name a few. It’s surreal to be here among them, knowing that cheerleading has shaped so much of my life and career.
My love for the sport began in fourth grade when I became obsessed with tumbling. By ninth grade, I found the courage to join my high school’s cheer team as its first male cheerleader. That decision changed everything. I quickly realized I wanted to pursue cheer beyond the sidelines, traveling to Southern Miss to stunt with their college team and later joining Central Mississippi Cheerleading’s All Star Coed team.
My cheer journey led me to LSU, where I joined the team, but in 2005, Hurricane Katrina changed my plans. Taking a break from school, I moved to Atlanta and landed a marketing role with Inside Cheerleading Magazine, marking the beginning of my career in media.
During my time at Inside Cheerleading, I met Tammy Van Vleet, the leader behind Golden State Spirit Association (GSSA) and Aloha Productions. Tammy was my first big client and one of my greatest mentors. Her ability to build, sell, and rebuild a global brand is rare in this industry.
On December 16, 2016, Varsity announced that it had acquired Aloha Productions, marking another milestone in Tammy’s career. But she wasn’t finished. After selling GSSA and Aloha, she launched her next venture—The Spirit Network—and once again, she’s redefining competitive cheerleading on a global scale.
This week, the industry received sentimental news as United Spirit Association (USA) announced that they will be closing their California offices, moving operations to Phoenix and Memphis. With this shift, the West Coast landscape is evolving, leaving JAMZ and The Spirit Network as the remaining strongholds in the region. For Tammy, this isn’t just another challenge—it’s a welcome opportunity to solidify The Spirit Network’s presence as a leader in the West Coast cheer scene and to continue to expand her international events.
Tammy Van Vleet reflects on the journey, saying, “I wouldn’t be here today without Kyle Lindell and Lacey Aichele on my management team. Their loyalty, expertise, and commitment have been instrumental in everything we’ve built. They’ve been with me since GSSA and Aloha, and their leadership continues to push The Spirit Network forward.”
From their early days building GSSA and Aloha Productions to selling and starting anew, their combined experience, determination, and passion have set the foundation for success. After years of working together, they reunited in 2019 to launch The Spirit Network, bringing their combined experience and leadership to create a new vision for cheerleading events. Their commitment to excellence and innovation ensures that TSN is not just thriving but leading the charge in the industry.
I launched Cheer Daily in 2014 to give cheerleading a stronger media presence. This weekend, covering The Marquee Main Event, it feels like everything has come full circle.
One of the greatest aspects of cheerleading is the friendships and community it fosters. Morton Bergue, a legend in the industry, summed it up best when he said: “Cheerleading has always been about so much more. The friendships we build and the support we have for each other, especially on the West Coast, make this industry and our friendships truly special. We push each other to be better, but at the end of the day, we always have each other’s backs.”
It’s true—there’s a unique camaraderie in the West Coast cheerleading scene, where competitors on the mat are friends off of it. That sense of unity is what makes events like the Marquee Main Event so much more than just another competition.
For me, this weekend isn’t just about judging—it’s about realizing how everything has come full circle. Cheerleading gave me my career, my friends, my passion. As I stand here, covering cheerleading for Cheer Daily, it feels like I’ve come back to where it all began.
Reflecting on this journey, I realize: “I see how every experience, every challenge, and every opportunity led me here. Cheerleading isn’t just something I did—it’s who I am.”
And that’s the beauty of this sport. It keeps evolving, growing, and connecting us in ways we never could have imagined.
The Spirit Network is proving that cheerleading is bigger than ever. With the success of the Marquee Main Event and its growing impact on the industry, it’s clear that Tammy and her team are building something extraordinary once again. As one of the last major independent brands on the West Coast, The Spirit Network is stepping up to ensure that cheerleading’s presence in the region remains strong.
So as the weekend unfolds and champions are crowned, I’ll be taking it all in—not just as a judge, but as someone who owes so much to this sport. Because in cheerleading, everything really does come full circle.
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