X-Cel Athletics Cheer and Tumble Academy home of Step 1 Allstars North

★★★★★Cassi Runyon

Our family absolutely loves Step One! My daughter has been attending cheer and tumbling classes twice a week for almost a year now, and the growth we’ve seen in her has been incredible. Not only have her skills improved so much, but her listening skills, confidence, and ability to follow directions have grown tremendously too — especially for a busy 3½-year-old! She is constantly asking when she gets to go back and counting down the “sleeps” until her next class, which says everything about how much she enjoys being there. One of our favorite things is how welcoming and encouraging everyone is. The older athletes are so kind to the younger kids, and it truly feels like one big family. Coach Sidney, Coach Delaney, and Coach McKenzie are amazing and have made such a positive impact on my daughter. She absolutely adores them, and it means so much that they know her by name and make her feel special every time she walks in. Melanie, the owner, is also wonderful and always takes the time to say hi and make every child feel seen. We are so thankful to be part of the Step One family and can’t wait for the day our little one is old enough to try out for a competition team. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a supportive, positive, and encouraging environment for their child!

★★★★★Debbie Collins

We’ve been part of X-Cel Athletics for 7 years, and we love everything about this program! From the Tiny Prep team all the way to a Worlds team, there is truly a place for everyone. Every athlete receives incredible coaching that not only helps them succeed in their current season but also sets them up for future success in cheer and beyond. X-Cel is so much more than cheerleading—it teaches life lessons like hard work, dedication, time management, and teamwork. It builds confidence and creates friendships that last a lifetime. Owner Melanie truly cares for every athlete and family like they are her own. You can tell her whole heart is in this program, and it shows in everything she does. Whether you’re looking for a class or team to match your child’s skill level, time commitment, or budget, X-Cel has something to offer. If you’re considering giving it a try—do it! You won’t be disappointed.

★★★★★Katie Fetsko

We absolutely LOVE Step One/Xcel Athletics. We are now in our 13th Season of all star cheer, 8 of which have been at Step One. My 3 girls spend MANY hours each week in the gym and have grown tremendously, not only in their physical skills but their confidence, organizational skills, and the list goes on! Being part of the teams at Step One means we are part of a family! The owner, the director, and ALL the coaches care about ALL the kids, from the youngest 3 year old athletes to the post-high school aged athletes. They are welcoming, friendly but set high expectations which is why they produce WINNING teams! Whether you are looking to simply learn tumbling skills in a once a week class, or looking to go all in and be a part of a year-long team (or anything in between), I HIGHLY recommend Step One North!

★★★★★Mea Rivers

First I would truly like to say how thankful I am that this gym afforded my daughter with an opportunity to join one of their teams after our previous gym abruptly closed. They were so warm and welcoming. They also took the time to assess my daughter’s skills and gave her direction on how to be a better athlete. This was a great decision for my daughter and she truly feels like a part of the cheer family.

★Nathan Schiros

Maybe this place is good, but for the one class that I took my 7 year old too it was a terrible experience. It was just my daughter and one other girl and the 4 high school "teachers" just sat there socializing instead of helping the girls who were clearly struggling. When one of the teachers did finally get up she asked if they needed any help. My daughter said yes and the other said no, so the teachers response was that they could figure it out on their own since they both didn't need help. My daughter was very upset as she was really excited to do this class.