Owner

Tori has owned and operated Firegem since March of 2021. She grew up in the gym, competing in both gymnastics (USAG) and power tumbling (USTA), at the national level. She cheered game day and competitively at the University of Northern Iowa. In addition to cheering for UNI, Tori also competed on a level 6 international open co-ed team for the Iowa All Stars. After graduating from Iowa State University, she head-coached college cheer for 7 years.

Highlights

• Head Cheer & STUNT Coach at the University of the Ozarks, a Division 3 school, where she built and coached the first STUNT team ever in the state of Arkansas, winning the very first STUNT game in Arkansas.

• Head Cheer Coach at Missouri Valley College, an NAIA school, where she won the 2018 National Collegiate Championship.

• Won the 2018 NAIA National Collegiate Cheer Coach of the Year Award.

• Received the 2018 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Achievement Award.

• Head Cheer Coach at the University of South Carolina Upstate, D1.

Tumbling Program Director & Gym Manager- Year 4

Jaz found his love for tumbling in high school at the end of his sophomore year at Mount Pisgah Academy where he joined the Acrobatics team. After graduating in 2009, Jaz soon began coaching tumbling, bars, vault, and trampoline at Electric City Gymnastics. In late 2010, Jaz also began coaching tumbling at Palmetto Athletics, eventually becoming certified to coach all levels of tumbling through United States All-Star Federation. Jaz continued to coach at Palmetto Athletics until he graduated college from Clemson University in 2016. During that time Jaz increased his knowledge of the sport of All-Star Cheer by coaching stunting, tossing, choreography, jumps, strength, and flexibility. In addition to All-Star Cheer, Jaz also has experience coaching dance and tricking (which caters to martial artists).

Highlights:

• Tumbling Program Coordinator & Head Tumbling Instructor at Steppin’ Out Dance Studio

• Tumbling Instructor at High Power Elite

• Tumbling Instructor for the TL Hanna Varsity Cheer Team

Cheer Program Director & Head Coach- Year 3

Destiny fell in love with cheerleading at an early age. She has nearly 13 years of experience in tumbling, All-Star, recreational, and high school cheerleading. Born and raised in Columbia, SC she cheered at Dreher High School and Silverjax Allstars. She made Greenville, SC her home after graduating from Clemson University in 2017. After earning her bachelors in Biological Sciences, she went on to earn her master’s in Healthcare Administration from Liberty University. She prides herself on fostering a safe team environment that helps build each athlete's confidence, while helping them prepare for their next level goals. She would describe herself as an energetic and passionate cheerleading coach who believes in mentoring youth through athletics!

Assistant Director of Operations- Year 4

Although not originally from the South, Maddie has been happy to call Greenville her home for the past four years! She was raised in Washington state and attended college at Cedarville University near Dayton, Ohio, where she received her bachelor's degree in Psychology. She has worked with kids and teenagers in many different jobs, including youth and children's ministry and even spent a year as "Movie Star Maddie" with Boosterthon School Fundraising. She first fell in love with cheerleading as an 8th grader when she attended her local high school's cheerleading tryouts on a whim. She ended up being on the varsity sideline and competition teams at her high school all 4 years, eventually as team captain. Her favorite part of cheer is stunting!

Highlights:

• UCA All-American cheerleader 2 years in a row

• 2012 state champion with her high school competition team

• Head Spirit Squad Coach at Converse University

Community Enrichment Coordinator- Year 1

Alicia is excited to be a part of the Firegem family!  She is married to her amazing husband, Steve, who is the best girl and cheer dad around.  They have two terrific daughters who are in their third year of competitive cheer at Firegem.  As a family, they enjoy being in the water {whether pool, lake, or ocean} and cheering on teams who wear orange: UT and Clemson.  Alicia loves to stay busy and can often be found creating t-shirts and hosting paint parties.  She enjoys bringing people together and helping cultivate relationships.  Please be sure to introduce yourself when you see her at the gym!

Head Coach- Year 2

Rebecca is originally from Upstate New York where she graduated college from St. John Fisher in 2020 with a degree in Marketing and Communications. She grew up in the all star cheerleading gym at CNY Storm and continued her passion at the collegiate level where she was voted captain 2 of the 4 years on the team. Post-grad, Rebecca completed her Masters degree in Organizational Leadership and moved to Charlotte, NC where she took her cheer expertise to local homeschool and Junior Varsity high school cheerleading teams. Since being in Greenville for a little over a year, she has been eager to find a cheer home and is so excited to become a part of the Firegem Family!

Highlights:

• New York State High School Section III Champions - 2013

• CANAM Collegiate National Champions - 2019

• North Carolina Bearcats Cheerleading Coach - 2021/2022

• Charlotte Catholic Junior Varsity Coach - 2021