Melissa has two daughters involved in the Ideal Cheer program and is our current Team Parent for our Junior Level 2 team Black Ice. Her daughter Alison is an athlete on Black Ice and her younger daughter Quinn is on our tiny exhibition team Icicles. She had discovered Ideal through her friend Kelly whose daughter is also involved in the program and is on the same team as Alison. Her favorite part about being in this program is “to watch my kids gain strengths in skills and set (and meet) their goals.” Since joining Ideal, she has learned that “Practice at home helps. Tweens are difficult . Missing practice really costs the team.” She has two favorite memories, one for each child enrolled, and it is this: “each time they gain a skill. They work so long and hard at them that it’s amazing to watch them accomplish it!!” 

Melissa’s Advice to Any Newcomers: 

“These athletes work their butts off so go in supporting their goals and make friends with fellow parents as it can really help to share the peaks and valleys of the sport!”