Stellar All-Star Cheer Academy is stirring up some excitement in Philly.
by Brittany Geragotelis
CBN Oct/Nov 2010
Stellar All-Star Cheer Academy
126 Leverington Ave * Philadelphia, PA 19127
215-509-6003 * stellarallstars.com
When Christina Kingkiner opened the doors to her new 10,000-square-foot facility in Philadelphia on May 23 of this year, she didn’t just open for business. She invited the whole community to stop by for refreshments, entertainment and a chance to see what Stellar All-Stars was all about. The result? “Our open house was a huge success,” says Kingkiner.
The former cheerleader and mother to a 12-year-old cheerleader had dreamed of opening her own cheer gym for two years, but had trouble finding the perfect place out of which to operate. Kingkiner finally found an old warehouse that fit her specifications, and after signing the lease on March 1, she got to work transforming the space into the home of Stellar All-Stars. Her hard work resulted in a fully functioning gym, complete with cheer floors, a trampoline, a parent-viewing area and a strength and conditioning section.
And although the facility itself is a sight to see, Kingkiner’s mission statement is even more impressive. “Having had a daughter in other all-star organizations, I see how expensive all-star cheer can be,” she says. “Many times, parents would struggle just to put their children in a uniform. Aside from keeping it safe and fun for the students, my goal is to keep it as affordable as possible so that every child gets an equal opportunity to cheer.”
She plans on achieving this by running fundraisers throughout the entire season. And although athlete participation isn’t mandatory, all the money they make goes directly back into their cheer fees. This is certainly a draw for her nearly 100 students, who’ve already flocked to Stellar All-Stars to be on one of the four competitive teams (including special needs) the program has.
Another perk attracting customers is Kingkiner’s dedication to enriching children’s minds as much as their health. “Two of our coaches hold degrees in education,” she says. “It’s just as important for our athletes to thrive in school as they do on the cheer floor. That being said, any Stellar cheerleader struggling in classes will be offered tutoring by a staff member at no extra charge.”
What’s inside Stellar All-Stars…
* 10,000 square feet
* Full-size regulation spring floor
* 18′ x 32′ cheer floor
* 40′ tumble trak
* Full-size in-ground trampoline
* Mezzanine parent viewing area, which includes a game area for kids, a large living room with a 52” flatscreen TV and an eating area
* Coaches offices
* Stellar Store pro shop
* Cubbies for athletes
* Strength and conditioning area, which includes water weights, an ab swing, a treadmill and more
*Variety of mats, including octagon mats, cheese mats, cartwheel mats and paddle mats
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