|
 In 2003 Stacie Kohles
left her coaching job with no goal in immediately opening a
cheer gym of her own. That quickly changed in a matter of days,
when 60 kids she had been coaching, "The Original
60!", convinced her to
start her own cheer team. Basically the cheerleaders and parents
told her "If you build it, we will follow you". So, without a
place to call their own the group practiced where ever they
could. When the weather was good they would practice at a local
park, and Arkansas Cheer Unlimited was born. During that first
season, it became obvious that this was going to be more than a one
year deal for Stacie, so she found a building just off of I-540
to rent and called it home. With no spring floor, ACU held its
first tryout session and more kids showed up along with the 60
that had followed Stacie the year before. This meant more teams
and more work. With three teams that season ACU started making a
name for itself in Arkansas as well as in the surrounding states by not just
competing, but winning national titles. By winning in the states
of Oklahoma and Texas, Stacie and her gym were starting to get
recognized. Taking advantage of this situation, Stacie got to
know people in the cheer industry nationwide. The contacts she
was building was not only helping her gym locally, but also
getting her foot in the door with some of the best coaches and
industry leaders in the business. For the next 4 years ACU
built a reputation of winning at some of the largest
competitions and against much larger gyms. The national title
count was building and before long ACU and its logo became one
of the most recognizable icons in the region. With the creation
of the USASF, a national governing body for all-star
cheerleading, ACU was quick to get their coaching staff tested
and approved. ACU became one of only two gyms in the state of
Arkansas to have an accredited level 6 coach. When the 2008 -
2009 season came to an end, it was clear ACU needed a larger
home. Stacie began designing what is now our current home. The
building not only had a larger area for cheer practice but also
had space for expansion, more parking, and a large parent
viewing area located above the cheer floor. Moving into their
new home in 2009 brought even more local notoriety. Every year
the number of all-stars grew. In 2011 Stacie was named the head
cheer coach of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Lions.
This opened the flood gates. At the 2011 - 2012 all-star tryouts
over 140 cheerleaders showed up at the gym. In turn, ACU
announced that for the first time they would have 6 all-star
teams. When her gym grew by 60% overnight, adjustments had to be
made. The gym needed to be redesigned. Another competition size
spring floor was added to accommodate two full teams practicing
at the same time. Looking back at those practices in the park with
"The Original
60!" seems like a life time ago. But that is
where this journey started. I am sure Stacie will be the first
to tell you, she never expected to be where she is today. The
day those 60 kids and their parents convinced her to start this,
was the day history was made!
"The Original 60!"
 
Senior
Youth Cheerleaders:
Chelsea Agent, Miranda Anzalone, Abby Arterbury, Molly Bebout,
Lauren Bell, Megan Brashears, Tucker Bull, Jordan Cheshier, Peyton Clements,
Mariah Combs, Jennifer Dunlap, Nicole Dutton, Tori Easton, Laura
Beth Echols, Allie Edwards, Brook English, Amanda Fleetwood,
Alizia Freeman, Aurielle Freeman, Megan Gabbard, Kelley Gilbert,
Alli Graham, Amanda Gramlich, Cassie Gramlich, CJ Gramlich,
Sarah Hocott, Kendra Jones, Kelly Kline, Emily Lau, Savannah
Lawrence, Kameron Lewis, Lauren Ludwig, Lindsey Ludwig, Mallorie
Maker, Rachel Maxwell, Christina Martin, Kayla McKenster, Hannah
McKenzie, Lexi Meeker, Staci Parrish, Lindsay Pittman, Kelsey
Seiter, Derik Sisco, Marry Lou Springer, Bill Stanley, Aschten
Steward, Tori Tankersly, Kayla Thames, Amanda Toney, Kara
Travis, Alexa Votaw, Paige Votaw, Kelly Walters, Macy Webb, Megan Welch,
Tiffany Willard, Chandler Wilson, Alexa Yazell Staff:
Stacie Kohles and Regina Sisco |
