Today we’d like to introduce you to Keila.
Hi Keila, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been coaching since 1996, when I first started helping with the youth teams while still in high school. From the very beginning, I loved seeing athletes light up when they achieved something new. Over the years, I’ve coached at every level — from the youngest beginners learning their first forward rolls to college level athletes pushing the boundaries of competitive cheerleading. Each stage taught me something new about patience, perseverance, and the power of building confidence through sport.
Before I coached in the gym, I coached at local high schools and became involved in cheerleading across Michigan. In the early 2000’s I served with the Michigan Cheerleading Coaches Association, connecting with and mentoring other coaches in the sport. I also worked as a register official for the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), which gave me a unique perspective on performance, scoring, and the standards of excellence at the high school level.
After judging, I took the next big step in my journey: helping to open the area’s first all-star cheer gym. At the time, all-star cheer was just starting to come into Michigan, and it was exciting to be part of building that foundation for athletes in our community. That experience gave me a front-row seat to how transformative all-star cheer could be, not just in skill development but in the way it brought families together and created new opportunities for young athletes.
Those lessons carried me forward when I eventually became the owner of WILDCATS Cheer Pride. I’ve now been leading WILDCATS for 15 years and owning it for 9, and we are celebrating our 16th season.
At WILDCATS, my mission is to create a place where athletes feel supported, challenged, and inspired to grow in skill and as leaders. The Pride Promises — Perseverance, Accountability, Confidence, Teamwork, and Growth reflect the same values I’ve leaned on throughout my coaching journey: showing up even when it’s hard, learning from mistakes, trusting teammates, and never giving up on your goals.
What I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built. Athletes who grew up in The Pride make up most of our staff and former athletes are returning with their own children! So many families have formed lifelong friendships here, and I get to watch young kids grow into leaders both on and off the mat. That’s what keeps me passionate about this work nearly 30 years after I first stepped onto a mat as a teenage coach.
Cheerleading gave me direction, purpose, and so many great experiences. My goal is to make sure every athlete who comes through our doors gets the same — the skills, the memories, and the confidence to carry with them for the rest of their lives.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest struggles has been the personal sacrifice. Running an “after school activity” means most of my evenings are spent at practices, which has meant missing dinners and family time. My son wasn’t interested in cheer, so I often felt like I was living in two separate worlds — trying to make it to soccer games while also being fully committed to the athletes in the gym. Coaching my own daughter added its own challenges too, balancing being “Mom” and “Coach” in a perfection-based sport where the emotions can run high.
The second big struggle was, of course, COVID. Mid-season, the gym went from full of kids and energy to completely silent. I had to figure out how to keep the business alive and how to stay connected with the athletes when they needed us most. We did Zoom practices, virtual conditioning, and anything we could to keep them engaged. But honestly, we came out different on the other side. The gym, the kids, even me as a leader — COVID changed us. It reminded me that we’re not just about skills and competitions; we’re a community, and keeping that connection alive was more important than anything else.
And the third struggle has been the ongoing reality of running a small business. There are financial ups and downs, staffing challenges, and hard decisions that don’t always make you popular but are necessary for survival. When my partner stepped away, I had to adjust quickly and take it all on myself — financially, emotionally, and as a leader. That was tough, but it also gave me clarity about my vision for WILDCATS and what I wanted it to stand for.
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Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
WILDCATS Cheer Pride is a competitive cheerleading and tumbling program in the Lansing area, and we’re now celebrating our 16th season. We offer everything from full-year and half-year all-star teams, to tumbling classes, to special programs like our CheerAbilities team for athletes with different needs, and even birthday parties and community events.
What we specialize in is safe skill progressions and leadership development. We take the time to make sure athletes are building the right foundation, not just throwing skills before they’re ready. But beyond that, we focus on building character.
What sets us apart is the community we’ve built. We’re a Pride. Many of our current coaches are former WILDCATS athletes who grew up in this program and came back to give back. Our alumni are still connected, our families form lifelong friendships here, and kids know they have a safe place to belong.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we’re recognized in our community for competitive success, and for being a positive, uplifting program that puts people first. When I started this, people didn’t even understand what All Star cheerleading was. We aren’t training to cheer on a sideline. These kids are athletes and they are getting the respect they deserve for their hard work.
At the end of the day we truly believe there’s a spot for everyone in The Pride, and our mission is to help every athlete leave here more confident than when they walked in.
Any big plans?
I’m really excited about the future of WILDCATS. We’ve been through a lot of change in the last few years, and it’s given me clarity about what I want this program to look like moving forward.
Right now, my focus is on **growing our intro teams and classes**, because I believe those programs give more kids the opportunity to experience cheerleading and be part of The Pride. I’m also looking at adding more birthday party options, expanding our summer camp program.
Long term, I’m committed to investing in our staff, making sure coaches have the tools and training they need to give athletes the best possible experience.
What I’m looking forward to most is seeing our community continue to grow. WILDCATS has always been a place where kids find confidence, families find connection, and athletes learn skills they carry through life. I want to keep building on that foundation and make sure every child who walks through our doors leaves here stronger than when they came in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wildcatscheer.com
- Instagram: wildcatscheerpride
- Facebook: wildcatscheer
- Other: http://tiktok.com/@thewildcatscheerpride
