Tori Wilson

Owner & Head Coach

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. Here are some of Tori’s career 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.

Jaz Isom

Assistant 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, vaulting, 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). Here are some of Jaz’s career 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

Maddie Bowser

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!

  • 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

Alicia Crenshaw

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!

Becca Brant

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

Casey Hurst

Camps & Clinics Coach- Year 1

Casey is currently a stay-at-home mom who Ubers her children around to all of their activities- including her daughter who is in her third season as a Firegem cheerleader! She’s married to the best husband and father in the world, Cal Hurst. They have two amazing children: Chandler (10) and Mary Ellen (8). She’s from Charleston, SC and graduated from Clemson University with a degree in French & International Trade. She also has an MBA from The Citadel. She was both a gymnast and cheerleader growing up. She cheered all four years of high school and was also on an all star cheer squad that competed at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando. She was honored to be named an UCA All-American cheerleader twice and coached pre-team gymnastics in her spare time! Now, she enjoys watching her children do what they love best. Casey says, “It’s a wonderful gift that our daughter is so passionate about cheer. I love being able to share in her joy!”

 

Chrysa Calvert

Head Coach- Year 3

Chrysa is from Irmo, South Carolina. She graduated third in her class from Spring Hill High School with an extended studies diploma. She is currently a senior in the Clemson University Honors College pursuing a degree in human nutrition with a minor in american sign language. She cheered on Dutch Fork High School's varsity cheerleading squad for 4 years where she was captain of the team her last 2 years. She also cheered at ACX Allstars for 12 years, where she was on the senior level 6 worlds team “Kat Daddies” her last 3 years. She loves being a part of cheer and watching kids grow and feel supported!

Destiny Johnson

Head Coach- Year 3

Destiny fell in love with cheerleading at an early age. She has nearly 10 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!

Kendall Sims

Head Coach- Year 1

Kendall was born and raised in Greenville, SC. She is currently a teacher at Mauldin Elementary and loves working out with her Burn Boot camp family. She was a cheerleader for 5 years and was a former high school competitive cheer coach for the past 6 years. She loves all things competition cheer! She is a dog mom to her sweet boy Silo, a miniature Australian shepherd. In her free time, she loves hanging out with friends, being outside by the lake or the pool, and spending time with family!

 

Melanie Grooms

Head Coach- Year 3

Melanie cheered at Clemson University (Go Tigers!) for 4 years where she was also the assistant cheer coach for 4 years. She has coached tumbling in Greenville, Anderson, and Powdersville, was on staff for NCA/CCA, was a choreographer for CheerSport Staff, and was a judge for CheerSport Nationals. Melanie has been a cardio dance fitness instructor at the YMCA in Greenville for the past 14 years and is a pediatric nurse with her BSN from Clemson University. She is wife to Brian (her high school sweetheart) and mom to four children: Bennett, Madison, Callie, and Emma. She loves spending time with her family and investing in the next generation!

Robert Williams

Head Coach- Year 3

Robert has been in the tumbling and gymnastics world for a long time. He has taught tumbling for over 40 years, served as a gymnastics coach for over 25, and has taught competitive cheer for over 15 years. He got his start at the Anderson, SC YMCA and then went on to work at Woodward Gymnastics in Pennsylvania and at the Olympic Training Center for over 8 years.

Shannon Guerra

Head Coach- Year 3

Shannon is a Greenville, SC native and fell in love with cheer while at Greenville High School where her team was Upper State Champ and State Championship Runner-up in 2006. She continued to cheer for Spartanburg Methodist College from 2007-2009 while earning her Associate’s Degree and captaining the cheer team her sophomore year. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from South Carolina State University. As a cheer coach and cheer mom to Laila, Shannon hopes to use her love for the sport to provide a fun learning environment for all athletes.

 

Shen Canada

Head Coach- Year 3

Shen was on the Greenville High School competitive cheer team at the SC state runner up in 2006. She has prior All Star Cheer coaching experience with Firecats Cheerleading prior to coaching at Firegem.

Tayler McDaniel

Head Coach- Year 3

Tayler is currently a senior graduating December 2022 from USC Upstate, studying Early Childhood Education. She has been cheering since the age of 10 with ACX cheer. She also cheered at Hartsville High-school for three years and USC upstate for four years where she served as team captain her senior year. She enjoys expressing herself through cheer and finds cheer a safe place for everyone to encourage one another, no matter their skill level. She loves encouraging each athlete and helping them feel comfortable in a fun and safe environment. She has previously coached tumbling at Middle Tyger YMCA & Spartanburg Gymnastics.

Kristy Markey

Front Desk Support

Kristy is Tori’s mom. She has supported Tori’s athletic career since it started in 1998 and her coaching career since 2014. Originally from Iowa, Kristy relocated to Greenville in 2020. She enjoys crochet, trying new restaurants, and going to the movies! Kristy helps work our front desk, ensure our facilities are stocked, and helps watch Tori’s baby, Sienna. Be sure to say hi!

 

** All coaches over the age of 18 undergo annual background screening on a federal, state, and county level.