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The Champions Training Academy for local youth cheerleaders has continued to grow in the three years since its opening in LaGrange. Champions hit a new milestone last weekend as it sent four teams to the prestigious Emerald Nationals hosted by Victory Spirit and Cheer in Pensacola, Florida. Not only was this the first time that Champions had competed at nationals, but it also saw two of its teams finish in first place — Tiny Little Lieutenants and Junior Elite Level 3 Royal Recon.

“We’ve never won a tournament with any of our teams. The only time we took a first was if we were the only team there in that category,” said Pattie Harrelson, the founder of Champions Training Academy. “So to go out there and finish in first place at Nationals was special.”

Seeing two of her precious teams claim victory was special for Harrelson, but having all four of her teams hit zero, meaning that there were no deductions, was the sweetest part of the whole experience. 

Despite not finishing in first place, the Sapphire Sergeants and Mini Majors both earned no deductions. It was a strong showing all around from the Champions Training Academy.

“It was really important for us to get zero deductions, even for the teams that didn’t place first,” Harrelson said. “Our other teams finished in fifth and seventh place, so it was a great day for our entire program.”

Members of the Tiny Little Lieutenants consisted of Sicily Knowles, Ainsley Napier, Emeryn Nelson, Caroline Taylor, Bristol Truitt, Hadalynn Fuller, Amelia Whatley and Saylor Burns. 

The Junior Elite Level 3 Royal Recon team was made up of  Lyleigh Lowthorpe, Sarah Garner, Emma Anthony, Ellie Atkinson, Ella Claire Williams, Ashtyn Nelson, Leigha Anthony, Kylah Shay, Mary Elizabeth Hall, Alaya’h Sanders, Ashlyn Harrelson, Charlotte Gregory, Natalie Nelson, Maely Potter and Charleigh Mae Pruitt. 

With so many kids across four different teams, Harrelson has a ton of help from her coaching staff.

“None of this would have been possible without their amazing coaches: Coach Tatum Smith, Coach Stephanie Hall, Coach Zakiya Dicks and Coach Jaden Robison,” Harrelson said.

The standards of youth cheerleading have now been reset in Troup County. Now, it is Harrelson and her staff’s job to raise the bar even higher.

“Champions continues to raise the bar in youth cheerleading and is proud to represent LaGrange with such strength and spirit on the national stage,” Harrelson said. “Next year, we want to go back to Nationals and see if we can improve on this year.”

As the program approaches its 3rd anniversary, the excitement is stronger than ever. To celebrate, Champions is hosting a Showcase Celebration this Saturday at their gym located at 1504 Orchard Hill Rd, LaGrange, GA. This will allow the program to show off its accomplishments from this past season as well as serve as a showcase for what Champions is all about.

Tryouts for the 2025-26 cheer season will be held at Champions Training Academy on May 10.