New Cheer Gym Brings Unity — and Room to Fly

It’s hard to miss the sound of pure excitement when a group of young cheerleaders tumbles into a brand-new gym. That joy filled the air Wednesday as coaches welcomed athletes into the new DAYAA RAMS Competitive Cheer facility in Unity Township. Within minutes, the space buzzed with energy — girls practicing handstands, testing backbends, and scrawling their names beside their coaches’ on the giant mirror that lines one wall.

Parents, meanwhile, turned in paperwork and admired what the new gym represents: a fresh start for a growing program now entering its second year. For the first time, RAMS athletes have a place they can truly call their own after previously practicing in borrowed school spaces at Derry Area High School.

RAMS Competitive Cheer gets its name from its four founders — Rebecca Blasco, Angie Reeping, Marissa Vokes, and Sarah Reeping — who together bring over 20 years of coaching experience. Blasco serves as coordinator, joined by coaches Angie Reeping, Vokes, Sarah Reeping, and Jillian Kuhns.

“This is our passion,” Blasco said. “We do this because we love it. Everything here, from the lease to the mats, is supported through sponsors and donations from our cheer families.”

The team’s mats are set to arrive April 8, with practices beginning immediately after.

For families like Brandi and Josie Vallorani of Latrobe, the new space feels like a turning point. Eleven-year-old Josie, preparing for her first competitive season, couldn’t wait to explore. “It’s really exciting,” she said. “The coaches are amazing, and it already feels like home.” She’s a little nervous about competing but mostly thrilled to meet new people and take on new challenges.

Competition season will ramp up this fall, with the team collaborating with a choreography company and celebrating a grand opening in May. Until then, the gym gives everyone more freedom to practice and perfect routines.

Young athletes like Caroline Fleming, 10, from Grandview Elementary, can already see the difference. “It’s bigger than the old one,” she said. “We don’t have to roll mats every time now.” Others, like Derry Area Middle School’s Audrey Terry, appreciate the flexibility that comes with having their own space: “We don’t have to keep renting — it’s our gym now.”

For Addie Fidazzo and Paizlie Rice, the gym means more stunting, more fun, and more chances to grow. Eleven-year-old Alice Drayer said it even helps her unwind after schoolwork: “It’s something that makes me happy and takes my mind off things.”

Currently, RAMS has about 50 athletes enrolled, and the coaching staff hopes to welcome more. Evaluations continue through April 8 for boys and girls ages 4 to 18 — with no experience required, just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. The program offers 6U, 10U, and 14U squads, and hopes to form an 18U team as interest grows.

Located at 5924 State Route 981, Suite 2, the gym aims to serve as a feeder program for local high school teams.

“Our goal,” Blasco said, “is to keep the tradition of competitive cheer alive in our area and give every kid a chance to shine.”