“CIU will always be my cheer home! I am the All-Star Choreographer for CIU, and I’ve won numerous national awards for choreography, stunts, and pyramids. Also, I won Grand Championships at US Finals and I am a D2 Summit Qualifier 2018 and 2019. I cheered at Westville HS and was on the state championship team in 2005. I danced on the NSU Majestics and earned a Bachelors degree in Business Administration, and my Masters degree in Special Education. I was a head coach at CIU for 8 years and coached at Omega Cheer in Fayetteville NC for 4 years. I recently purchased my own gym, Infinity Athletics, and I currently live in Colorado Springs, CO with my husband Dante, and my 6-year-old daughter, Avah.”

“Hi! I am Bri Buck, the Assistant Director at Cheer It Up. I have been coaching here for six years, and I absolutely love being part of this incredible community. I recently graduated from Northeastern State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and a minor in Communication. In addition to coaching, I work full-time at Provalus.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to teach a wide range of classes, from Beginning Gym to Advanced Gym, and even Boys Gym! During this time, I also serve as the head coach of our competitive gymnastics program. My goal is to help every athlete believe in their ability to soar to new heights, and with the right guidance and support, they can achieve amazing things. Our coaching staff is dedicated to developing not only skilled athletes but also confident and resilient individuals who carry those qualities into every part of their lives.”

“My name is Addie Boulware. This is my 13th year at Cheer It Up! and I still love what I do! I was born and raised here in Tahlequah, OK and am currently a counselor at Tahlequah Middle School. I tumbled and cheered at Cheer It Up! when I was young, and it has always held a special place in my heart. I cheered through grade school and also in high school, where Mrs. Elliott was my cheer coach! I love that Cheer It Up! gives me my little kid fix. I teach Mommy & Me, Preschool and beginning classes. Being at CIU teaching and coaching is an escape for me and always brightens my day!”

“I first started gymnastics/tumbling at the pre-school age like a lot of these girls! I started competing in gymnastics at age 9 and continued up until I went into high school. After I stopped competing I stayed around my home gym to help coach. I cheered throughout middle school and up until my sophomore year of high school. I love working with the kids and hope to provide them with the knowledge they need to succeed. My #1 goal is to have the kids finish my class knowing how to work hard & succeed!”

“My name is Taylor Gunneman and I have been working at CIU for 2 years now! I am originally from Siloam Springs, Arkansas and cheered for my school sideline team and competitive! I also did all star competitive cheer for 9 years! I started at level 1 and ended on a level 6 worlds team! I have been awarded All State, All American, and I am the cheer captain for the NSU cheer team. I am working on a degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in health and human performance! With my educational knowledge and cheer background, I am able to understand the kids more and help them improve quickly and have a great time while doing it! My favorite part about this job is getting to see the kids get new skills! I am always just as excited as they are!”

“Hi!! My name is Tiara Harley. Aka Coach T!! I am from the Okmulgee area and have been cheering since I was able to walk and was a little mascot. I started competing in high school and was a Regional Champ my freshman and sophomore year. I cheered 3 years of college cheer and was a cheer captain my sophomore year at the JUCO i cheered at, where I achieved my Associates degree in science. I have been coaching tumbling here going on 3 years and am going on my second season of coaching all star cheer. The bonds I have made with the kids is something I will cherish forever!! I miss cheer with my whole heart but have loved coaching here and sharing the love and joy I have for cheerleading.”

“Hi! My name is Karlie Long. I am from Pawhuska where I first started cheering in elementary then began doing competitions in high school! I am currently a student at NSU and a part of their cheer team! Cheer is something I am very passionate about, and I am glad that I have the opportunity to share my passion with these kids! My favorite part about coaching is watching all the kids’ confidence grow as they learn new skills!”

“Hi!! My name is Alayna McAlpine, i have been cheering for 9 years and I’m currently on Tahlequah Varsity Cheer Team and assistant coach on Tanzanites!! I love Cheer It Up and watching my kiddos grow and succeed in there skills!!”

“Kaley is a senior at Westville High School and has enjoyed dance and cheerleading during junior high and high school. She loves to choreograph and loves working with children. She is currently teaching back walkover, front walkover, and backhandsprings classes. She will be attending Paul Mitchell School of Cosmetology in Fayetteville upon graduation and will continue to classes at CIU.”

“Comes to us from Winnsboro, TX where he graduated high school in 2022.
He is currently a sophomore at NSU, majoring in Biology. Marquis competed in gymnastics from 5th grade through 9th grade and then added cheerleading to his repertoire.Marquis is teaching advanced and elite tumbling classes along with boy’s gymnastics.”

“Hi!! My name is Jacie Bennett and this is my first year coaching here at CIU! Tahlequah is my hometown and I’ve lived and grown up in this amazing community my whole life. I’ve began tumbling from the age of 8 right here at CIU and from the moment I started taking classes I immediately fell in love with it. I decided to start cheering in 7th grade at the middle school level and realized my love for cheerleading very soon after. I cheered all the way through senior year of high school on the Tahlequah Varsity Cheer team at the competitive levels of both OSSAA Performance and Gameday regionals & state. I also tried out and was honored to be named a 2023 OCCA All-Region Cheerleader. I love all that cheerleading entails from tumbling, stunting, dancing, completions, and game days, to the school spirit, confidence, and leadership skills it embodies in each individual. I’m currently a Sophomore at Northeastern State University majoring in Speech and Language Pathology, and after I graduate with my Master’s degree I plan to work at an elementary school or where ever God calls me to teach. My goal as a coach is to not only teach my children how to correctly and safely learn skills with great technique, but to also help them gain confidence in themselves and their own capabilities! I love kiddos so much and hope each child I get the privilege of coaching knows how capable they are of growing in their abilities and also how loved they are by not only me but everyone here at Cheer it Up.”

“Preslie is from Broken Arrow, where she was actively involved in Special Olympics and gained experience working with children as an assistant teacher in an early learning facility. She also served as an aquatics supervisor at Lifetime Fitness, further developing her leadership and teaching skills.

She is currently a freshman at Northeastern State University and a member of the Delta Zeta sorority.

At CIU, Preslie works with preschool and beginning classes, bringing her passion for early childhood development and hands-on learning to young students.”

“Keira Kate has grown up at Cheer It Up, starting in tumbling classes and competing with the Aerials gymnastics team for over seven years. Although she is new to coaching, her dedication and experience make her an incredible asset to our gym.

She is currently attending Tahlequah High School, where she is a member of the cross country team. Keira Kate assists with Mommy and Me, gymnastics, and preschool classes, sharing her love for the sport and helping young athletes build confidence and skills.”

“Haley is a freshman at Northeastern State University and joins us from Eufaula, OK, where she cheered for three years and trained in tumbling. She has experience working with children as a nanny and is an active member of the Delta Zeta sorority at NSU.

Haley teaches preschool and beginning tumbling classes, sharing her passion for cheer and tumbling with young athletes.”

“My name is Gianna Yates, and I am from Tulsa, Oklahoma! I have been cheering for as long as I can remember and have experience in both school and all-star cheer. I cheered for Union Tulsa Varsity and competed with Oklahoma Xtreme Cheer’s Black Ops team. I am currently a senior on the Northeastern State University cheer squad, where I continue to grow as an athlete and leader.


Cheerleading has shaped me into the person I am today, and I love sharing my passion with young athletes. As a coach, I focus on building confidence, improving skills, and creating a fun and encouraging environment. My favorite part of coaching is seeing my athletes’ passion for the sport grow. Watching them fall in love with cheer and push themselves to new heights is just as exciting for me as it is for them! I am so excited to share my passion of cheerleading with all of the athletes at CHEER IT UP!”