How a Youth Level 1 team went from its very first practice to a national competition floor in just 14 months — and what it says about starting competitive cheer at any age.
Fourteen months. That's how long it took the Courage CAts — a Youth Level 1 team at Cheer Athletics Omaha — to go from their first team practice to competing at one of the largest youth multi-sport events in the country: the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
Believed to be the first all star cheer team from Nebraska to reach the event, the 16-athlete squad represents something Cheer Athletics has seen play out at locations across the country: with the right foundation, competitive cheer is a sport athletes can enter, grow in, and excel at faster than most families expect.
Here's the story behind the milestone — and what it means for any family wondering whether it's the right time to start.
What Is the AAU Junior Olympic Games?
The AAU Junior Olympic Games is one of the largest youth multi-sport events in the United States, organized by the Amateur Athletic Union. Each year it brings together thousands of young athletes from across the country to compete on a national stage across a wide range of sports, including all star cheerleading.
For a cheer program, sending a team to the Games is a marker of national-level competitiveness — a signal that athletes are performing at a standard that holds up well beyond their local and regional circuit.
A Program Milestone 14 Months in the Making
The Courage CAts formed roughly 14 months ago. In competitive cheer terms, that is a remarkably short runway to reach a national competition floor. Most teams spend multiple seasons building the skills, consistency, and team chemistry required to compete at that level.
"Just 14 months ago, this team began its journey, and now they will make history as the first cheer team from Nebraska to compete on this stage," said Tiffani Wolf, co-owner of Cheer Athletics Omaha. "Their work ethic, heart, determination, and belief in one another have earned them this opportunity. This isn't just a milestone for Cheer Athletics Omaha — it's a milestone for Nebraska cheer. These athletes are proving that big dreams are possible with commitment and courage, and I know they'll represent our program, our community, and our state with pride. USA All Day… let's go, Courage CAts!"
The team competed throughout the 2025–2026 season as a Youth Level 1 team — a division built around foundational tumbling, stunt, and performance skills — proving that a strong foundation, not years of accumulated seniority, is what carries athletes to the national stage.
How a New Team Reaches the National Stage So Quickly
The Courage CAts' rise raises a fair question: how does a brand-new team get this good this fast?
The answer is the same developmental approach Cheer Athletics uses across all of its locations — a progression model where every skill builds on the one before it.
Fundamentals first. Before athletes work toward advanced tumbling and stunts, they build body awareness, balance, flexibility, strength, and core technique. These fundamentals make everything that follows possible.
Progression over pressure. Coaches introduce new skills only once athletes show consistency and confidence with the skills that come before them. That step-by-step structure builds real competence rather than rushing athletes past gaps that resurface later.
Repetition builds consistency. Much of practice is repetition — drilling familiar skills to build the muscle memory and reliability that competition demands. It's one of the most effective ways athletes improve.
Individual pace, team standard. Every athlete develops at a different rate, and coaches measure progress against each athlete's own starting point. The result is a team that rises together.
That model is why a team can form, develop, and reach a national competition in a compressed window: the system is built to move athletes forward efficiently without skipping the foundation.
What This Means for Families Considering Cheer
The most common question Cheer Athletics hears from families is some version of is it too late to start? The Courage CAts are a clear answer.
Athletes join competitive cheer at many different ages and from many different backgrounds — some from gymnastics or dance, others from sports like soccer, volleyball, or track, and many with no prior cheer experience at all. What matters most isn't when an athlete starts. It's finding a program with a structure that meets them where they are and moves them forward.
A team that reached nationals 14 months after its first practice is proof that a late start, a new team, or a fresh beginning is not a disadvantage. It's simply the starting line.
About Cheer Athletics
Cheer Athletics is an all star cheerleading organization with locations across the United States and the United Kingdom, serving athletes of all ages and experience levels. Programs include competitive all star teams, tumbling classes, skills clinics, and individual training designed around a progression model that helps every athlete build from their current level.
Families interested in competitive cheer, tumbling, or skills training can explore programs and locations at cheerathletics.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it too late to start competitive cheer as a teenager? No. Athletes begin competitive cheer at many ages, including in middle school and high school. Programs built around a progression model meet athletes at their current skill level and develop them from there, which is why a late start is not a barrier to competing successfully.
How long does it take to reach a competitive cheer team? It varies by athlete and program, but progress can happen quickly with the right structure. Cheer Athletics Omaha's Courage CAts reached the AAU Junior Olympic Games roughly 14 months after the team first formed.
What is a Youth Level 1 cheer team? Youth Level 1 is an entry-level competitive division focused on foundational tumbling, stunt, and performance skills for younger athletes. It emphasizes proper technique and fundamentals as the base for future progression.
What is the AAU Junior Olympic Games? It is one of the largest youth multi-sport events in the United States, organized by the Amateur Athletic Union, bringing together athletes from across the country to compete nationally across many sports, including all star cheerleading.
Do you need experience to start cheer? No. Many athletes join with no prior cheer experience, coming from other sports or activities. Programs are designed to build skills from an athlete's current starting point.
