Raleigh, North Carolina's #1 Cheer Gym! Yet over the next year and a half, Williams practiced alongside fellow athletes, taught lessons and posed in Cheer Extreme team photos, according to a dozen social media posts, including some from team accounts. NTVlZDkwMmU3YzEwNjlmOTViZGM0NzA0MTg3N2E3MmY2MWMxMjMwY2Y2NGMy The mission of Cheer Extreme Raleigh is to provide a family oriented environment focused on the athlete. Competition fees are non-refundable once they have been paid unless Kelly decides to cancel an event. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. All Star faces other lawsuits over alleged sexual abuse in South Carolina and Tennessee. $49 (includes athlete & two additional people), Range from $450-$1,200 (not including summit/worlds). Attorney Jessica Fickling, who's also on the legal team, says Varsity has created a structure to report abuse, but it doesn't keep kids safe. Gabriela Medford, now 19, said she went to police because she feared Rucker would harmsomeone else. The suit says the owner killed himself in late August after learning he was under federal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security. She said "an additional baseline background check"revealed nothing "that alerted us to any potential issue.". January 24, 20234:49 PM ET By Victoria Hansen Enlarge this image Attorney Alexandra Benevento, center, speaks with reporters during a news conference announcing a cheerleader abuse lawsuit filed in. It's not clear if the coaches and choreographer are still working with cheerleading teams. An online petition by an anonymous person has since gathered more than 300 signatures, urging the school to let the athletes compete. I ask her, what is more? She replies, more competitions, more teams, more challenges, Summit! "I wish they would have removed him from the gym right then and not waited for it to happen again to somebody else,"Cox said. "I've never felt such complete injustice and rage," says one boy's mother. Sexual abuse allegations at 'Cheer Extreme' gyms leads to federal Monthly Crossover Fee to More Than One Team: Crossovers will also pay for each competition they attend if one team travels uniquely. He was later convicted of felony rape. Her skills were advancing and even though, CEA has definitely been instrumental in my daughters life! Another woman filed a report with police in North Carolina saying she heard Rucker had been flirtatious with a young athlete at a gym years earlier, records show. "But nothing could be further from the truth.". Young says Childhelp met with survivors of the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal after the conviction of team doctor Larry Nassar. Six months after joining Cheer Extreme, Caudill was charged with rape. Directions. "They were also harmed by these companies that not only didn't do anything about it, but decided they were going to protect themselves over protecting children," says Benevento. A choreographer associated with the company tried to have sex with the boy, according to the filing. (919) 876-8325. Carolina Xtreme Cheer & Dance | Hodges SC - Facebook She subsequently landed sponsorship deals from big brands like Nfinity. In all, 12 lawsuits on behalf of 21 plaintiffs allege a culture of sexual abuse, drugs and pornography in competitive cheerleading. Website. Unlike other Cheer Extreme coaches who were stern and distant, Rucker was affable, she said,and asked about her personal life. He accuses adults at the facility of knowing about the assault but not reporting it. Attorneys say the lawsuit was filed against a young athlete who says he was sexually abused by coaches at Cheer Extreme gyms in Raleigh and . The lawsuit alleges John Doe 1 told coaches at Cheer Extreme Raleigh that he was being abused but nothing was done and law enforcement was not notified. ZGM1OGQwNGFmNTdhNDc1MDc4Mjc2MzRlYzZhOWU1Y2JiYTY2NjBjOTlkNWUz Harmon, who has not faced criminal charges,denied Calip's allegations,telling USA TODAY "that got dropped becauseit was all B.S." NmRlMGQxY2Q3YjgzZjZmMDNmYzViNTZmZWNiMTRmMjU0ZWFmOGVkZGZjNzAy In Georgia, a cheerleader at the Stingray Allstars Marietta gym alleges in a lawsuit he was raped by a male coach two years ago, when he was 15 years old. MDZkOGIyNWJmYjNkZTM3M2I4ODVlM2NiYzI1YjRhYWE5ZTZmZDVlODAzYWI4 MTVmZjEyOTIyOTk5NjUxZjFiZDIxMDc1MDI4NmZjMmE0M2RhZDc4YjdlZjhj What they learned, she said, is that internal reporting within sports organizations doesn't always work. Directions Advertisement. Raleigh, NC Level 6 SJX - Junior 6 TBA - Extra Small Senior Coed 6 (Worlds) Code Black - International Coed 6 Non-Tumbling (Worlds) Cougar Coed - International/Open Coed 6 (Worlds) SMOEX - Medium Senior Coed 6 (Worlds) SSX - Small Senior 6 (Worlds) Level 5 Blush - Senior 5 Level 4 Juicy - Junior 4 Kiwi - Junior Coed 4 Angels - Senior 4.2 We are thrilled for you to learn more about our program. Since that first federal civil lawsuit in South Carolina was filed, Rockstar has been hit with three more. A USA TODAY investigation found those accolades belie a troubling record on child protection. Website. It handles abuse complaints. Similar suits have also been filed in six other states, naming five gyms, 15 coaches and two choreographers. One of those allegations was reported to Raleigh police in Februaryby an individual who accused Harmon of "SexOffense/IndecentExposure"starting in late 2015, records show. NPR reached out to Stone and spoke with his father, who said he would contact his son's attorney, but NPR did not hear from the attorney. MDM3M2RhZTc3MTllNmVlOWM5NTAifQ== In two cases investigated by USA TODAY, some of the accused's fiercest defenders were members of the Cheer Extreme community. USASF suspended Williams last August, nearly a year after his arrest and as USA TODAY prepared to publish an article about the sport's anemic list of banned coaches. Hotels Near Cheer Extreme Raleigh - HomeTownLocator Williams said Parker connected him with families seeking cheer lessons after Williamslost his job teaching middle school, when he was charged with two counts of felony criminal sexual conduct with a minor. "I was just super angry that I trusted someone with my children,and I thought he was a good guy,"Christinesaid. Smith-Pope declined to be interviewed. Police declined to file charges. Simmons could not be reached for comment. Njc3ZmFjMmZjNGE5NTIzNzliOGI3MmQ1MWY1MDRhNzQ3YWZmNDRhNjgyODA0 Your access to this site was blocked by Wordfence, a security provider, who protects sites from malicious activity. She says the owner of the new gym told her Premier Athletics was investigating abuse reports and her son's name was mentioned. NzU1NzM5NWYwZmM1MzVjN2E5NzgyMGIzNzk4ZmNiNjIyYTljY2FhN2U1ODE5 USA TODAY spoke with nearly two dozen former Cheer Extreme athletes, parents and employees, most from the North Carolina locations owned by the family that founded the company. Twelve sex abuse suits filed against cheerleading coaches and - NPR Williams said he attended the competition as a spectator and parents from the team bought him the branded outfit "because they thought I played a vital role in helping their kids get there." "What we know from the work that we do is the pain never goes away," says Young. of athletes 38 plus alternates Division Senior Large All-Girl Colors Teal, Black and White Level 6 Cheer Extreme Raleigh. "They should be held responsible for every person that they put at risk because they enabled him.". ZjU1NDY4MWFhNzQ1YWNlODQ4MTBmZTBhMTZkNjVmNDY1M2FmMTAyNDBmMGYy In addition to reaching out to gym owners, NPR also tried to contact the 15 coaches and two choreographers named in the lawsuits. "I thought Mike waslikethat one coach that really just believes in kids. Soon after, Williams sought to change his story in a brief text message to USA TODAY. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. It is unclear when Harmon's tenure at the company ended, but he told USA TODAY he no longer works in the cheer industry. Mzc2NWYxZWJlNzVjOWRkMmYyZmJjMmE3NzE2MGRlYTA0ZDI0MjM0YWFkOGRm In 2018, Sabrina Miller followed the rules laid out in Cheer Extreme's code of conduct and went first to a team mom in Raleigh to report that a male athlete, Nore Simmons, 19, sent her daughter Kiara Cox sexually charged messages that made her uncomfortable. RALEIGH, NC If you build it, they will come and come they have to Cheer Extreme Raleigh. The abuse alleged in the lawsuit happened between about 2016 and 2018. Cheer Extreme is more than just a cheer gym with coaches, it is Kristis favorite place to be! MzQ1YTAxYWQxMWJjMmE3MWM5OWY0YmI4MDBkMDJhODk2YjFjMjVlNTliZDc5 Helton said those owners removed Simmons when the additional allegations surfaced on social media last September. The man was taken to the hospital after being shot in the upper body, a news release said. Cheer Extreme. Welcome to Cheer Extreme, the allstar cheerleading powerhouse that was founded in 1992!! Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. You had to see behind the false face that he had. YzExZGFjZmVmNTk4MGY5NTRjNzU2MzA1NjA4MGMxMjU4Mjc5NDhkNWZiYjc2 North Carolina Cheerleading Gyms | Cheerzone North Carolina Mooresville Cheer Extreme Lake Norman. That has not stopped him from being at Cheer Extreme. Other Fees will include camp fees, choreography, music, coaches fees, post-season goodie bag, etc. Cheer Extreme said in a statement that it has "zero tolerance for any kind of inappropriate or illegal behavior.". More. A choreographer associated with the company tried to have sex with the boy, according to the filing. We are committed to supporting survivors and their pursuit of justice against those individuals responsible, Varsity Spirit said. Cheer Extreme, in business since 1992, is owned by Kelly and Randall Helton, who are named as defendants in the lawsuit, as are coaches Chase Burris and Shawn Wilson. Marisa can be reached atmkwiatko@usatoday.com, @byMarisaK or by phone, Signal or WhatsApp at (317) 207-2855. "There was definitely a false front that he provided to most of the people that he interacted with. No foul play suspected, Columbia Waffle House workers go on strike over meal deductions, lack of security. Claim this business (919) 777-7190. Her mother said Harmon should never have coached her daughter. Last September, in response to the allegations against him on social media, Simmons posted a statement on Twitter: "I truly apologize if I made anyone feel uncomfortable." 1,255 were here. Back at high school that fall, Medford said, Cheer Extreme athletes she had been friends with stopped talking to her and spread rumors throughout the school about what had happened. All Rights Reserved. That made it all the more disheartening when the gym brushed off her mother's call. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. "There can be a culture of secrecy, a kind of authoritarian structure," says Young, who stresses she cannot speak directly to the allegations against competitive cheerleading. Sandy Hooper and Michelle Hanks, USA TODAY, Former Cheer Extreme athlete shares story of sexual misconduct by former coach Mike Harmon. Attorney Alexandra Benevento, center, speaks with reporters during a news conference announcing a cheerleader abuse lawsuit filed in Tennessee on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. GREENVILLE, S.C. It's been eight years since a South Carolina mother told her daughter she thought her cheerleading coach at Rockstar Cheer and Dance in Greenville, S.C., was a nice guy. He posted bail and his case has been continued, according to records. Cheer Extreme Raleigh - Official MapQuest The coach proceeded to drive around, eventually stopping and forcing Plaintiff John Doe 1 to perform oral sex, according to the lawsuit. The woman was not associated with cheerleading. How prepared are we? Dr. Yetsa Tuakli-Wosornu, director of the Sports Equity Lab, an independent research group studying inequities in sport, said the multistep process for reporting concerns, coupled with the gyms position on anonymous reports, can create an environment in which predators flourish. Cheer Extreme | Kernersville NC - Facebook Cheer Extreme. Attorney Alexandra Benevento, center, speaks with reporters during a news conference announcing a cheerleader abuse lawsuit filed in Tennessee on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. OTI0ODBlNTdjNjExNTE4OGU4MTI2NTVjOTViM2JkN2FhNThhNDlmYzgwMjgw Cheer Extreme is the largest program in North Carolina with a reputation as one of the most well recognized programs in the world. Cheer Extreme Lake Norman - Official MapQuest CHEER EXTREME RALEIGH - 3816 Tarheel Dr 104, Raleigh, North Carolina See the complete team list projection below: Cheer Extreme Raleigh, will boast 20+ All Star teams for the 2020-2021 season, keep up with them on social media. The suits allege it happened in cars, hotels and private homes, "We have people who have attempted suicide, who can't establish relationships with the opposite sex," says Sellers. All Rights Reserved. When the boy reported it to a coach, he did nothing except to tell the teen to let him know if it happened again, according to the filing. Two days after USA TODAY told Cheer Extreme officials how Williams described his involvement at the gym, the company provided a statement from Parker in which he said Williams was "immediately removed"from the programwhen officials learned of the allegations. Her favorite coach is Darnell Harris. She says she was too terrified at the time to report the abuse. Hotels Near Cheer Extreme Raleigh - Get Current Rates & Check Availability Cheer Extreme Raleigh - Nearby Hotels & Motels 20-year-old SC man dies in hospital emergency room after shooting, coroner says, Drugs, guns and thousands in cash seized during bust at SC home, deputies say, SC man killed when motorcycle crashed into tree is identified by coroner, Two people killed when tractor trailer rolls over next to SC road, Highway Patrol says, Bougie Columbia-made jam makes it hard to go back to Smuckers. Now its hit the big stage, Sumter police investigating death of Shaw Air Force Base airman. Officials from the Maryland location did not respond to requests for comment. Caitlin Calip, a former Cheer Extreme athlete, alleges her former cheer coach sent her lewd photos over Snapchat. Gidget Medford said she faced skepticism from the moment she called Cheer Extreme Charlotte in August 2018 to report that one of the gym's coaches had sexually assaulted her 16-year-old daughter, Gabriela. "Just recently, the athlete shared with me that there was more to the story than I knew at the time,"Helton said. Gabrielatold USA TODAY she was at a sleepover at the friend's home when Rucker rubbed her leg and forced his hand into her underwear. "The complaint does not name the alleged abusers, making a response difficult, however what we can provide are the systems in place at our company with regards to athlete safety," Helton said in a statement. "They acted like they were concerned.". He had starred in the Netflix series "Cheer," a documentary series about competitive cheerleading. Mary Maddison "Maddie" Gardner (born July 13, 1993) is an American news reporter, who was also an internationally recognized Allstar Cheerleader. We offer both Full Year and Half Year All Star cheerleading programs, as well as recreational tumbling camps, track out camps, and summer camps. Generated by Wordfence at Sun, 9 Jul 2023 21:38:35 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString());. We must ask what these entities did to protect these children, and how this type of abuse can occur if the system is designed for protection, Jessica Fickling, a lawyer for the Strom Firm said in a news release. "Our clients have been led to believe that they're alone," Sellers said in news release announcing the Ohio lawsuit. At this point, we are seeing a pattern, said Bakari Sellers, who is representing the teen named as John Doe 1. Welcome to Cheer Extreme Allstars - Cheer Extreme Allstars First and foremost, our concern is for the survivors and their families. Her longtime goal is to become a veterinarian. Claim this business (704) 628-5452. The judge ruled in Harmons favor, citing "no credible evidence to support the allegations of the sending of the inappropriate photographs through SnapChat." ODY2MGRmZDRlYWFkNWQ2Mzc2NzAwZWU0NWE2MmFjOTJiOTZhMTJkYThiZmZm Caitlin Calip said being doubted by members of a gym she loved was a devastating experience, leaving her numb and feeling alone. They were just waiting for it to be bad enough that they could kick him out, as if it wasn't bad enough from the start. OTA0ZTk0ZGNlNTM5ZmI1ZmQ1N2Y0M2ZkM2QzYTRjMDQxNzU2MDcwOTA0MDRi Cheer gym has titles - and a tarnished record on child sexual abuse About Us - Cheer Extreme Allstars Within weeks, Rucker was charged with felony second-degree forced sexual offense and misdemeanor sexual battery. I was just super angry that I trusted someone with my children, and I thought he was a good guy. There have been several recent accusations against coaches associated with the national cheerleading league. Hesaid he was allowed to practice with a Cheer Extreme teambecause "we were hoping"that the charges would be dropped before the competition season began. In Washington state, Caudill was convicted of obstructing a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest after he fought with officers responding to a call about him trying to break into a womans home, court records show. In Arizona, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after yelling profanities at customers outside a taco restaurant and walking shirtless through the drive-thru before getting in a physical fight with several patrons, court and police records state. The Calip family was not represented by an attorney, and transcripts from the hearing indicate the judge was frustrated by the mother's lack of legal knowledge. The suits allege there had been a previous complaint about the coach to the gym and USASF, but nothing was done until police got involved. As in the cases in other states, the lawsuit also names as defendants organizations that oversee the sport and stage competitions including Varsity Brands, Varsity Spirit, Varsity Brands Holding Company, U.S. All Star Federation. Cheer . NGY1MGFhNTVmZDZkNmIyZTIyMWZkYjAxMDUxNDUwZGZjZWJjNGQ2Y2IyNjZj I thought Mike was like that one coach that really just believes in kids. "They didnt believe it,"Williams said. Webb's attorneys say he has no ties to South Carolina and his contributions transforming cheerleading from a sideline activity to competitions do not "impose liability on Mr. Webb for the alleged conduct of a handful of rogue bad actors.". 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Varsity spokesman Tom Becker rejects the accusations of abuse and civil conspiracy. The attorneys who filed the suits say they expect to file even more in other states as plaintiffs continue to come forward with cases that span decades. Smith-Pope said Rucker helped clean out the gym when the building was vacated. The first allegations made in South Carolina. Along with her teammates, she flawlessly performed a series of coordinated back flips, jumps and stunts and were announced the winners of the event. Members of the cheerleading community who spoke with USA TODAY said they were frustrated by the gaps in athlete protection. That location closed this year. Cheer Extreme Sanford - Official MapQuest He continued messaging underage athletes, according to interviews, social media posts and screenshots of messages provided to USA TODAY. The prosecutor handling the case in Bedford County, Virginia, told USA TODAY his office found troubling messages on Caudill's cellphone that showed he was "very aggressive"about developing close relationships with underage athletes. At the hearing in 2017 on the Calips'petition for a no-contact order, Harmon admitted FaceTiming Caitlin about cheerleading and exchanging messages with her on Snapchat, but he denied wrongdoing. MDMzNjNjOTIzMzMzMWRjYThiMWM5MDhhY2FjZjExMDI5YWIyOTAxZDVlOGQz YTRhNGM4NWIxOWU2N2ZmZmZkNTg3MjQyNDAyNTc5Y2IxZDJkMmQ1ZGRlNTE3 About Us - Cheer Extreme Raleigh So I felt very duped. I think the young women that he had interactions with, however, saw a whole different side of his character,"Bedford County Commonwealth Attorney Wes Nance said. In January 2018, at the age of 13, eighth grader Ryan Cummings inadvertently earned viral fame after a video clip of her sassy facial expression was made into a meme that was liked and shared by millions of people on the internet. Several of them cited Cheer Extreme as an example of how the desire to win, coupled with USASF's weak policies, can put the sport's children at risk. Spectrum News 1 reached out to the other defendants for comment but they did not reply. MWNlYTg0NTJiZTA5NjMwNjdmNzEyN2ZhMTRkYzFjODg5ZWEzNmQ3ZjFmOTZi The news organization detailed sexual misconduct allegations against celebrity cheerleader Jerry Harris, who has been arrested and pleaded not guilty to federal charges. Claim this business. 3492 Cameron Dr Sanford NC 27332 (919) 777-7190. After his arrest, a mother from a different gym wrote on Facebook that it should be "a wake up call to all those parents and coaches that KNEW something wasn't right with that guy, but did nothing." $79 Registration Fee or $100.00 per family, $49 USASF Fee (2021/22 price; *subject to change). Home North Carolina Cheerleading Gyms North Carolina Cheerleading Gyms ACADEMY OF GYMNASTICS Roxboro, NC 27573 336.322.3277 theacademyofgymnastics.com CAROLINA ELITE - BURLINGTON Gibsonville, NC 27249 336.449.9232 carolinacheercenter.com CAROLINA ELITE - EDEN Eden, NC 27288 336.449.9232 carolinacheercenter.com CAROLINA ELITE CHEER & TUMBLE The owners of Raleigh Cheer Extreme, Kelly and Randall Helton, did not respond to requests for comment from Spectrum News 1. "Perhaps it could work that way. Worlds!Cheer Extreme! ZTc1OTcxYzE1YzMxNjU0MzQ5NjliYzUzNjYyNmEzOTM5YWEwNjc1NTNjNzFh NmFhM2U4MjUxZmI4MDEzYTVmMTNjNTE5MzVjZjNjODdkOWNlN2IwMWVmY2Yx In one screenshot shared with USA TODAY, Rucker sent the woman a photo on Snapchat in which he pointed to his cheek and beckoned her to kiss him. 1601 Garner Station Boulevard Raleigh, NC 27603, Tiny Teams practice once a week for Exhibition-Novice and range $65-$115. The first, a photo of his penis, arrived on her cellphone with no warning in the middle of the school day, Calip told USA TODAY. USASF has since hired a consulting firm to strengthen its policies and enforcement. He said he had requested that he be permanently banned from the sport. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy.