march / april 2022
16
By Abbie Reed
Tucked away just off I-359 in a large , bright blue warehouse , is ACE Cheer Company of Tuscaloosa , the elite training center for aspiring cheerleaders , local school teams , and home to our ACE of Tuscaloosa all-star competition cheerleading teams . Each day throughout the year many youngsters pass through the doors for these classes in cheerleading skills and tumbling , or practice for their team . There is nothing like this unique family environment full of spirit , athleticism , teamwork , and competitiveness .
ACE Cheer Company came to Tuscaloosa in July of 2013 , merging with Cheer Authority and current owner , Christa Grizzle Sanford and opened doors at their location at 2517 29th Street , Tuscaloosa , Alabama 35401 . Coach Christa , as cheerleaders and adults all affectionately call her , has had a connection to cheerleading most of her life and it is what brought her to Tuscaloosa in 2002 as the manager of Cheer
Authority . She has inspired , loved , and coached many local athletes and teams that have gone on to be successful at the highest level . Christa has many accolades including 15 college national championships , 7 world championships , and numerous local championships along with over 20 years of teaching / coaching experience .
The gym boasts three full cheer floors — two spring floors and one flat floor , and three tumbling tracks---an air track , a spring track , and a trampoline track . Qualified instructors teach a progressive set of skills with safety at the forefront . There is also a large parent viewing area located above the cheer floors .
This time of year is especially busy , as area schools get ready for cheer tryouts , bringing many hopefuls into the gym to learn requirements for their respective school teams . Open gym is popular with those polishing skills , and cheer tryout prep and level tumbling classes are great ways to get prepared for those upcoming tryouts .
Classes begin at age 2 ½ with Tiny & Tot and progress to