Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Ruth.
Abby, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m a cheerleader-turned lawyer-turned back to cheer! After cheering in high school here in Dallas and then for four years at the University of Texas while working as a Head Instructor for the National Cheerleaders Association, I entered law school at SMU Dedman School of Law. My husband Peter and I started a family, and I practiced law for many years when I decided to take a wild pivot back into the sport I loved. My daughter was getting very excited about cheerleading, and we were on the hunt for just the right gym. We needed a place that combined both expert cheer and tumbling training with a positive and nurturing environment that matched our family’s values.
Although we enjoyed our experiences at different gyms in the area, I decided to jump in both feet to open a cheer training facility that perfectly matched my vision and Mustang Cheer was born! For busy moms like me, I knew convenience was key–so our location at Park Lane and 75–the cross-section of the Park Cities, Lake Highlands, Preston Hollow, and Lakewood, was perfect! Hiring the best talent in the industry was my highest priority–and thankfully, the best-of-the-best signed on. Finally, pouring qualities including self-esteem, confidence, positive body image, teamwork, and leadership into these athletes at such a critical age would be the greatest focus of Mustang. We opened our doors on August 26th of 2019 with a larger-than-expected number of athletes, and I could not be more thankful for the wonderful community that has welcomed Mustang to Dallas!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have faced several interesting challenges in our new and growing business–virtual training in the face of COVID being our greatest so far! Certainly, these unprecedented times have provided us the opportunity to think outside the box on new ways to challenge our athletes while we are out of the gym. Our coaches jumped into action very early with the possibility that the virus might alter the way we trained. They thoughtfully filmed hours and hours of cheer and tumbling content that directly correlated to the skills athletes worked in the gym, and through our distance training program, MustangTV, our athletes are able to take their classes with their coaches “on demand” in their homes! Coaches are also conducting weekly live Zoom classes for their athletes and even offering private Zoom lessons for extra in-home training. We can’t wait to get back in the gym, but this opportunity has challenged us to become better coaches and broadened our horizons to new ways we can train athletes no matter the location.
Mustang Cheer – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Mustang Cheer is a cheer and tumbling facility and retail store that trains athletes ages 2 to 17. We offer all kinds of programs from all-star competitive teams to sideline cheer classes, and even specialty classes like acro-aerials for dancers and our infamous “Mustang Train” speed and agility program. Mustang Cheer does not stop at skills–we are deeply committed to instilling important values in our athletes. Mustang is intentional about ways we build up our athletes to promote self-esteem and confidence. For example, when athletes master a new skill, they get to ring a big bell in the middle of the gym, and all other athletes in the gym stop and cheer for them while they demonstrate their new skill for all to see. Next, to promote positive body image, all athletes abide by a modest yet athletic dress code so that all feel a part of the Mustang team and do not feel the need to compare their appearance to others’. Finally, Mustang is so committed to training the leaders of tomorrow that we intentionally weave leadership training into our workouts.
From stretching at the beginning to conditioning at the end, we talk about what it means to be a leader, study leadership characteristics, and reinforce leadership behaviors exhibited in the gym. At the end of each class, a coach identifies one of his/her athletes as the Mustang Star of the Week for demonstrating leadership during practice. The Mustang Stars receive buttons for their backpacks to remind them to be leaders outside of Mustang, and the Stars take on leadership roles in the gym the next week, such as leading stretches. We recognize that the time we have with these kids is a precious opportunity to not only build incredible talent but also to build intangible qualities that will outlast cheer and tumbling skills.
Contact Info:
- Address: Mustang Cheer
9100 N. Central Expressway, Suite 300
Dallas, Texas 75231 - Website: www.mustangcheer.com
- Phone: 214-222-9168
- Email: info@mustangcheer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mustangcheerdallas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mustangcheerdallas/
Image Credit:
Group of coaches with me in it (not the V), head shot, megaphone and angel wings is Thomas Garza.
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