But she never imagined her business would “blow up” the way it has.
All Star Gymnastics now reaches 350 children through branches in three communities, offering gymnastics, cheerleading and dance. The business also provides the only competitive gymnastics and cheerleading programs in Aroostook County.
“This has just become more than I ever thought it could be,” she said recently while helping to train gymnasts inside her Houlton gym. “I talk to a lot of people about how we haven’t expanded, we have blown up, and it has been fantastic. I still can’t believe it.”
After moving into a permanent facility in Mars Hill in 2010, All Star Gymnastics expanded to Presque Isle and Houlton in 2011. As interest in her facility grew, she began offering competitive gymnastics and cheerleading classes, as well as dance classes for children.
Wheeler is a former gymnast who has taught the sport for eight years.
“The gymnastics program is really popular, especially with girls,” said Wheeler. “There are more sports open to boys around here, so it is nice to have another sport that is open to girls. We have three competitions a year, and it is so nice to see these youngsters blossom. We use the U.S.A. Gymnastics guidelines when teaching them and helping them advance through the levels.”
She said she started team competitions in 2012, to allow the gymnasts and cheerleaders at each facility to compete against other All Star Gymnastics teams, and also to enter state elementary and upper level competitions.
“It really takes two to three years to build up a gymnast to the point where they are strong enough to get ready to compete,” she said. “You have to work with them to build up their endurance and muscles so that they don’t overdue or hurt themselves. You can’t throw them into team competition right away. Prior to coming to our program, most of our gymnasts have only taken programs at their local recreation centers.”
Wheeler said that each of her facilities is filled with competitive level equipment, including balance beams, high bars and tumbling mats. Eight coaches split their time between the three locations.
She said she is “very proud” of the cheerleading program, which continues to grow each year.
“I have 70 cheerleaders on four separate competitive teams,” she said. “And we have had a number of students since 2008 who have just come and taken tumbling classes. I would say that since we’ve started, more than 100 kids have learned to do a roundoff back handspring and 50 have learned to do back tucks, which is great, because that means they go into high school cheerleading already knowing those tumbling skills.”
Amy Suitter of Littleton has her daughter, Hailey, 10, enrolled in the cheerleading program at All Star Gymnastics in Houlton. She said Thursday evening that her daughter loves “all of it, but the dancing and jumps the most.”
“I enrolled her in the class a little late in the season when I found they had an opening. I had been looking for something for her to do to be more active since she’s not into sports,” said Suitter .”She’s had a blast and was so excited and nervous when they had the competition in Bangor, but she’s already excited for next year. She’s hoping to enroll in gymnastics with them next year so she can learn the tumbling too.”
Hailey Suitter said that the “coaches are the best part of the team.”
The All Star Gymnastics cheerleaders also have found success on the competition circuit.
“We are now home to the 2014 Maine State Junior All Star Champions and the 2016 Maine State Mini All Star Champions,” said Wheeler.
Wheeler said she might expand again in northern Maine.
“But I would not do it unless I had the quality level staff in place that I need first,” she said.
