Meet Taylor Mondick of Rival Cheer Academy in Fort Worth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Mondick.

Taylor, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I began participating in gymnastics at an early age and eventually got involved with competitive cheerleading. I continued to coach after my high school years and accepted several coaching opportunities that took me all over the globe. After nearly 14 years in the industry I decided I wanted to have a gym of my own. I registered the name Rival Cheer Academy and began renting a floor from a local gymnastics facility. I started with just a handful of kids. After 2 seasons at the local gym, my program had grown and we needed our own space. I moved into a small warehouse and bought used equipment from a gym that was closing. Over the next 2 seasons we continued to grow and needed an even larger space! In the spring of 2017 we moved into a brand new, fully equipped custom facility. Over 100 competitive athletes proudly wear the Rival uniform and our recreational programs are consistently full.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far the Rival brand has come. In the beginning, we were so small that we scraped by and relied solely on word of mouth to get our name out there. The competition in DFW is fierce and most of the major players in the industry have been around for 20+ years. Naturally, making a name for ourselves was a slow process. There were some obstacles along the way, but none too great to keep us down. Believe it or not, the increase in enrollment was a major obstacle we had to overcome. You need the right space, right equipment, and MONEY to run a successful program, all of which I was severely lacking. Fortunately, there were people along the way who believed in what I was doing and were able to help get us our very own building and the proper equipment.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
First and foremost, we are in the business of positively affecting the lives of youth athletes. Whether they participate in our competitive cheer program or take a recreational tumbling class, we strive to instill positive morals and values into every participant.

We have a very “down home” feel at Rival and I think that’s why people like us, we truly are a family, and that is what sets us apart from other gyms…our athletes don’t get lost in the shuffle, rather, we get to know them on a personal level, their strengths & weaknesses, their hopes & dreams…this transform cheerleading into more than just a sport, it then becomes a platform for success in our athletes’ everyday lives.

Though we are in the business of competing, and winning is nice, at the end of the day it’s about the relationships we’ve formed and the kids’ lives we’ve touched. We understand that we are helping to shape these athletes into successful young adults.

As a company, I couldn’t be prouder of our wonderful athletes and their families. They are incredibly supportive of one another and have a great sense of company pride. Our members are fiercely loyal and it’s so comforting to have such a wonderful support system in the gym.

Our competitive cheer program competes locally & nationally and is comprised of athletes aged 5-18 years old.

Our tumbling program consists of several classes offered throughout the week catering to all ages and skill levels.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was ball of energy and my mother was a saint for putting up with me. I was constantly flipping around the house, jumping off of the highest object I could climb or running around outside like a madman. That’s probably why my parents put me in gymnastics at such an early age. I stayed busy in my teenage years with competitive diving & cheerleading and even won the 2006 Cheerleading World Championships. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be involved with the sport in some capacity.

Pricing:

• Tumbling Classes range from $45-$55/month
• Competitive Cheer ranges from $100-$170/month

Contact Info:

• Address: 4870 Kennedale New Hope Rd. Ste 100
  Fort Worth, Texas 76140
• Website: www.rivalcheer.com
• Phone: 817-969-5309
• Email: rivaloffice@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rivalcheeracademy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rivalcheer/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/rivalcheer?lang=en

Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.