About Us
Our History
Rival Athletics, located in the Utah Valley, is a distinguished all-star cheerleading gym with an impressive track record. As the proud 12-time NCA National Champions,8-time Cheersport National Champions, and 5-time Summit Champions, we uphold a legacy of excellence. Founded in 2020 by owners Alexa Huff and Anthony Carr, Rival Athletics is committed to nurturing capable, confident, and competitive athletes in a secure and enriching environment.
At Rival Athletics, our mission is to cultivate competitive teams across all levels. We prioritize the development of technically skilled athletes who excel through hard work. Our training focuses on building mental and physical strength and our dedication lies in shaping individuals into resilient and accomplished athletes throughout their journey with us.
Our Motto
As a member of this program (athlete, coach, or parent) I hold myself, and my teammates to the highest of standards whether that be in competition or practice. I will show integrity at all times while valuing the efforts of my competitors and representing my gym proudly in my actions on and off the mat. I will strive to become the best version of myself through this sport while developing skills and talents for my future.
"Resilient in the face of adversity.
Integrity in what is asked of me.
Valuing all opportunities that come my way.
Accepting the outcomes while cheering on others inside and outside of RIVAL.
Leading others through my example."
- Written By Lila Danielson
Meet Our Staff
Alexa Huff
Alexa Huff has always had a deep passion for cheerleading. With around 11 years of coaching experience, her favorite aspects are the relationships formed and the valuable life lessons learned. She enjoys showing young athletes that they are capable of more than they think, a lesson she often learns herself. Being part of something bigger is fulfilling, and some of her favorite moments occur when athletes share stories about their day. Earning the trust of both parents and kids as a coach and mentor is incredibly special to her.
Anthony Carr
Anthony Carr, co-founder of Rival Athletics, has an extensive background in the cheer industry, totaling 16 years. He began his cheer journey at the age of 8 in Twin Falls, Idaho, and quickly transitioned into coaching at the young age of 13. This will be Anthonys' 11th season coaching, and 5th season as Owner of RIval Athletics.
Braylee Huff
Braylee Huff's journey in cheerleading began at the age of 7 with gymnastics and transitioned to all-star cheerleading for 10 years, including two appearances at the Cheerleading Worlds. Following her time in all-star cheer, Braylee cheered at Utah Valley University for 4 years, competing at the NCA college nationals. With experience as a camp instructor for the United Spirit Association, Braylee is now entering her 8th season coaching all-star cheerleading, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the team.
Chase Takenaka
Chase Takenaka is known for his dedication to cheerleading, considering it his life's passion. With a focus on elite team coaching, stunting/tumbling lessons, and choreography, Chase is excited to enter his 3rd season at RIVAL. This will mark his 6th season coaching overall, highlighting his commitment to the sport and the athletes he works with.
Savana Winterton
Savana is entering her 2nd Season with RIVAL. Anyone who knows her knows that cheerleading is everything to her and has been instrumental in shaping who she is today. She grew up cheering on the California Allstars Aces and continued her career cheering for the last 5 years at BYU. Savana has been a flyer her whole life and lives for all things about the air. She has an extensive background in elite flying, pyramids, and basket tosses, as well as an elite tumbling background.
Ari Erickson
Cheerleading has been a huge part of Ari's life for the past 17 years. She started cheering at 7 years old and continued every year after that until she got into nursing school. During that time, she won a Summit title and competed at the Cheerleading Worlds. Ari cheered at the University of Louisville and won an NCA college national title with their all-girl cheer team. She has coached gymnastics, tumbling, and cheer. Ari was an assistant coach at Crimson Cliffs High School for the past 2 years, winning two state titles. When she is not coaching, she is an ER nurse. This is Ari's first year with Rival Athletics!
Brian Clark
Brian Clark, born and raised in California, began his cheerleading journey at Platinum All Stars, where he developed a strong foundation in tumbling and stunting. He later joined Cheerforce, where he benefited from exceptional coaching. While with Cheerforce, he also coached tumbling at CA Pride All Stars, eventually coaching their Youth 2, Junior 3, and Senior 3 teams. Brian moved to Utah to pursue his education at the University of Utah. He is now excited to begin his second season with Rival Athletics, ready to share his passion and experience in cheerleading.
Hailey Toomey
Hailey Toomey has deep roots in the cheerleading world, having dedicated 11 years to competing in all-star cheer and an additional 2 years at the high school level, where she proudly won a state championship with her team. Over the years, she has honed her skills and developed a profound appreciation for the sport. Now entering her 7th year of coaching, Hailey is thrilled to embark on her first season with Rival Athletics. She is passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of the athletes she coaches, both inside and outside of the gym.
Morgan Olson
Morgan found her passion for cheerleading early on and started coaching at 15, loving every moment of helping others fall in love with the sport. After spending the last five years coaching at an all-star gym in St. George, she’s now jumping into her first year at Rival Athletics and couldn’t be more excited. Morgan thrives on watching her athletes grow, gain confidence, and have a blast with cheer. She's all about spreading the joy of the sport she's loved for so long.
Scottie Semick
Scottie Semick has been passionate about all-star cheerleading since starting at age 7. As a 4-time NCA champion and 2-time Summit champion with Rival Athletics, Scottie has come to love not only the sport but also the incredible sense of family that comes with it, especially within Rival. She believes that the key to a winning team is understanding that every single person plays an essential role in achieving success. Scottie is excited to be a part of Rival's Season 5!