Our Incredible Staff!
Jess Gerlacher
Gym Director
Team Coach & Class Coach
jessowenscce@gmail.com
Jess Gerlacher began her career in competitive cheer in 2012 and competed on teams at the highest level from two top gyms. With her teams, she is a four-time winner of NCA, the most prestigious cheer competition in the country with over 50,000 athletes competing. She has won and placed top three at World’s, featuring top level teams from around the globe. She also won Majors, an invitation-only event for the best teams in the country. As a coach, Jess led her team to second place in the most competitive division at NCA and won Grand championships at Bravo competitions.
More importantly, she has won over parents and children through her thoughtful and compassionate coaching style.
In 2021, she earned her degree in early childhood education with specialties in bilingual teaching and special education from TCU, where she excelled at positively motivating children to perform at their best academically. She has worked as a kindergarten teacher and has lovingly accepted several foster children into her home.
Jess has chosen to apply her teaching skills to lead children to become the best versions of themselves through extracurricular competitive cheer, learning teamwork and sportsmanship in addition to the performance sport. Jess will be in charge of operating Challenger Cheer Elite and coaching teams and classes.
Travis Wilchar
Tumbling & Class Director
Class Coach & Team Tumbling Coach
traviswilcharcce@gmail.com
Travis Wilchar has over twenty-five years of experience as an elite athlete and coach in competitive cheer. He began as a teenaged tumbler on a cheer team at the highest level and has remained in the industry as a nationally recognized tumbling and cheer team coach.
As an athlete on only top-level cheer teams, Travis won NCA seven times, Cheersport five times, and World’s, where top level teams must earn a bid to compete. His teams placed top three at World’s six times. His teams were named Grand Champion at NCA and ACA, awarded to the highest scoring team at two of the largest competitions in the country. He was named Boys Best Tumbler four times and top all American in high school at NCA.
At Navarro College, nationally known for its competitive cheer team, Travis’ team won the College NCA Championship twice. Individually, Travis won the All-American Cheerleader award both years he competed.
As a coach for over twenty years, Travis has won all the major competitions with some of the best teams in the country at multiple levels. He has coached teams to win NCA and Cheersport seven times and World’s once. His teams placed in the top three six other times at World's.
With experience working as a coach at six different programs over the last two decades, Travis has learned positive, effective, and safe methods to coach tumbling and stunting at all levels. As a nationally recognized expert in tumbling and coaching, Travis will be the Tumbling and Class Director for Challenger Cheer Elite.
Hannah Wilchar
Administration Director
Front Desk
office@challengercheerelite.com
Hannah Wilchar will be at the front desk to help our families and to ensure that our athletes and parents get the most from our program. Thanks to her effective organizational skills, Hannah will keep our gym running smoothly.
Hannah began her cheer career in 2012 and has competed only at the highest level on teams from two of the top gyms in the country. As an athlete, she has won NCA, the most prestigious cheer competition in the country with over 50,000 competing athletes, three times. She has won and placed in the top three multiple times at World’s, featuring teams from around the world who have earned a bid to compete. With her team, she won Majors, an invitation-only event for the best teams in the country. She also won Cheersport Nationals, the largest competition in the country.
As a coach for over eight years, she has won NCA, Cheersport Nationals, and ACA, all major, nationally recognized competitions, with children of all ages. Parents and children appreciate her positive and effective coaching style.
In addition to keeping our gym running, Hannah will fill in as a team and class coach as needed at Challenger Cheer Elite.
Meredith Henry
All Star Director
Team Coach & Class Coach
meredithhenrycce@gmail.com
Beginning at only four years old, Meredith Henry cheered on top level teams at two of the most successful cheer programs in the country, achieving ten America’s best championships, six NCA wins, and second and third places with her teams at World’s, the largest international cheer competition.
After graduating from Texas A&M with a political science degree, Meredith has coached competitive cheer for the last 15 years. She has spoken on children’s mental blocks at Varsity coaching seminars, and her teams have won the prestigious NCA nine times, Summit, three times, and nationally recognized ACA twelve times, including five grand championship wins. Through her years of coaching experience, Meredith has collected a fund of knowledge about how to maximize team scores, to inspire children to perform at their best, and to teach children to be better people.
During her lifetime as an athlete and coach, she has watched the sport evolve, and her passion and deep understanding of competitive cheer will make our gym a competitive Allstar program. Meredith truly loves her athletes and knows how to motivate children to bring the best out of them. Meredith Henry will coach teams and run our Allstar program at Challenger Cheer Elite!
Jon Lea
School Cheer + Camp Director
Class Coach & Team Tumbling
jonleacce@gmail.com
With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Coach Jonathan Lea will be an incredible addition to Challenger Cheer Elite. Jon specializes in tumbling technique and competitve school cheer teams. He has also worked the past few years as the Camp Director at his previous program.
Jon has coached it all from Intro - Level 6. He is incredible at spotting higher level tumbling skills and brings the fun to tumbling. Coach Jon has a successful history of coaching Prep Teams and School Cheer Teams. At CCE, Jon will be our School Cheer and Camp Director, as well as working with our Allstar cheer teams over the summer on tumbling technique.
Jon believes that learning skills should be encouraging and uplifting. His number one goal as a coach is to get athlete's and their family excited about Allstar Cheer. Jon hopes to pass on his knowledge and love for cheer onto the next generation.
Joshua Ryan
Team Coach & Class Coach
joshuaryancce@gmail.com
Coach Joshua Ryan, AKA big red, is joining us from Ft. Worth, Tx. We are beyond excited to announce that Coach Josh is starting off his 20th year coaching with Challenger Cheer Elite. He has dedicated his life to coaching tumbling, Allstar cheer, and choreographing cheer routines.
Josh believes in always coaching with kindness in order to be the coach he once needed as an athlete. He is also a great cook, and has a deep love for Selena and Malachi music. Josh has a special talent for coaching younger athletes and has been incredibly successful coaching prep teams. He gives his all to everything he does and has an especially kind heart. Coach Josh will teach our athletes to have passion and dedication to this amazing sport.
Josh can't wait to help our athletes dreams come true and keep our staff, athletes, and parents laughing every day!
Kelsey Taylor
Team Coach & Class Coach
Kelsey Taylor spent her entire childhood in Allstar cheerleading. She became an All-American cheerleader and went on to become an incredible D1 college cheerleader at Texas State.
During her time at Texas State, Kelsey earned her degree in exercise and sports science, giving her a great understanding of how to keep athletes safe. She plans to continue her education at medical school. From Tiny teams to Seniors, Kelsey has coached it all when it comes to Allstar cheerleading. She also has experience choreographing Allstar cheer dances, as well as choreographing middle school and high school cheer routines.
Kelsey is passionate about creating a strong bond with her athletes and sharing her love of the sport. We are thrilled to have Kelsey as a team and class coach.
Cherie Hawk
Class Coach & Team Coach as Needed
Cherie Hawk is starting off her 30th year coaching at Challenger Cheer Elite. Over the last 30 years, Cherie has coached Women's Team Gymnastics (Levels 1-9), High School & Competitive Cheer (All Levels), and Trampoline and Tumbling (Levels 1-Elite). She has been a Program Director as well as, Head Coach for Women's Artistic Gymnastics and Competitive Cheer. Cherie has received multiple awards as a coach including an innovative choreography award from NCA. Cherie is a kind, knowledgeable, and encouraging coach.
As an athlete, Cherie competed as a gymnast, competitive cheerleader, and college cheerleader. During her time competing, she earned 13 NCA wins, while competing at the highest level. She was also a stunt double in Bring It On as one of the clover flyers! Cherie attended UNT and earned her degree in Psychology and Neuroscience.
Cherie's daughter Skye, is a Team USA, World Champion, and 9X National Champion in Trampoline and Tumbling at the highest level. When Cherie isn't traveling with her talented daughter, you'll see her coaching camps, classes, and team practices at CCE.
Rob Owens
Team Coach
Robert Owens started tumbling as an athlete in 2007. During high school, Rob joined competitive cheer as well as bringing joy to his classmates as the school mascot.
Rob has continued his passion for the sport and has always loved coaching Allstar cheer and tumbling. For the past 15 years, Rob has continued to coach at multiple cheer programs in DFW. Rob has led his teams to 4 NCA wins throughout his coaching career.
Rob’s fun personality has won over the hearts of many athletes. His empathy level and caring nature helps athletes reach their full potential. While continuing his electrician career, Rob will be coaching teams at Challenger Cheer Elite.
Airyana Wilson
Team Coach & Class Coach
As a former gymnast and Allstar cheerleader, Airyana Wilson has a strong tumbling background. Cheer has become an important part of Airyana’s life the past few years.
Airyana is currently an All-American Varsity cheerleader. She has spent the last couple years coaching young children in cheer and tumbling skills.
She absolutely loves children and with her high energy personality, we know our athletes will love Airyana. We are excited to such a kind, upbeat, and hard working coach work with our athletes. She will be coaching teams and classes and we are ready for Airyana to spread her positivity to our program.
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Emily Mitchell
Coach Class
Since she was little, Emily has been in and out gymnastics and tumbling. She has continued her passion for sports.
As the oldest sibling to 4 little sisters, Emily thrives when it comes to children. She is apart of the PALS program at school, which is a program designed for special needs children to join their peers for fun activities. Emily also spends her time babysitting and is a strong Varsity soccer player.
Emily loves meeting new people, trying new things, and is constantly working to become stronger both physically and mentally. She always has a smile on her face and will be a great addition to our staff.
Emory Rosiek
Class Coach
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Emory Rosiek is on the Varsity cheer team at Melissa High School and has been involved in cheer, gymnastics, and tumbling since she was little. She started out as a gymnast before making the move to cheer and tumbling.
She spends her free time competing as a Varsity cheerleader, babysitting, and being involved in the personal training program at school. She loves kids and her dream job is to be a pediatric nurse one day. Emory is incredibly motivated in all she does.
Emory is positive, energetic, and is always having fun. Her smile is contagious, she has the best attitude, and we know our kids will love Coach Emory.
Aubrey Williamson
Class Coach
Aubrey Williamson is an incredible addition to Challenger Cheer Elite. Aubrey began her cheerleading journey in 1st grade as a sideline cheerleader and has been devoted to the sport ever since. As a former competitive cheerleader and current Varsity High School NCA Champion cheerleader, Aubrey knows what it takes to be the best.
In her free time, Aubrey volunteers at church with the special needs ministry. She is currently a 4th grade student intern and is planning to pursue a career in early childhood education.
Aubrey is incredibly smart and has a special talent for working with young athletes. We are thrilled to have Aubrey coaching at CCE!
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