Coach Shannon

 **Coach Shannon is the Owner & Cheer Director at NOVA. She coaches our competition squads and offers personal training sessions and clinics.**

Coach Shannon began her cheerleading journey at the age of 4 and continued through high school. She cheered for the ULYFL Oarsmen and the CLYFL Jaguars in elementary and middle school. In high school, she was part of the varsity basketball cheerleading squad and the competition team at Loudoun Valley. At the age of 10, Shannon also began cheering competitively with the Loudoun Attitudes and continued with them throughout high school.

Shannon began her coaching career with ULYFL in 2016, starting with the D League and continuing through A8 Titans Cheer. In addition to coaching, Shannon served as the ULYFL Cheerleading Coordinator from 2018 - 2022 and was the President of ULYFL from 2022-2026.

Her inspiration to create what is now NOVA Cheer Elite stemmed from the remarkable athletes she has coached over the years, many of whom were eager to elevate their skills and take them to the competitive cheerleading mats. Shannon is dedicated to sharing her passion for the sport of cheerleading and looks forward to continuing to inspire and mentor athletes at NOVA for many years to come.

Coach Amy

**Coach Amy is the Assistant Cheer Director at NOVA. She coaches on our competition squads, manages our instructional staff and offers personal training sessions & clinics.** 

Coach Amy's journey into cheerleading began in 2018 when her daughters became D-League cheerleaders for ULYFL. Witnessing their passion and dedication to the sport, it ignited her own interest and led her to volunteer as a coach for the league, where she has coached the Packers and Knights cheer squads. When her daughters joined NOVA in 2021, Coach Amy began assistant coaching and eventually took the role as head coach for the younger competition squads in 2022. In addition to leading competitive teams, she teaches classes and provides private lessons, helping athletes refine their skills and reach new milestones. With a strong focus on building solid fundamentals in cheer and tumbling, Coach Amy is dedicated to instilling confidence, discipline, and a passion for excellence in her athletes. Inspired by the profound impact her daughters’ coaches had on them, she is committed to being a mentor and role model, empowering her cheerleaders to believe in themselves both on and off the mat.

Coach Erica

**Coach Erica is the Safety Coordinator at NOVA. She coaches on our competition squads and is a lead instructor in our Advanced Tumbling program.**

Coach Erica is a former competitive gymnast.  She began gymnastics in her Aunts in Charlottesville VIrginia ,  when she was four.  Coach Erica continued competitive Gymnastics until her senior year of high school, winning two individual state championships in vault and in the all around category.  Coach Erica also cheered with her high school and was a part of their competitive dance team. Coach Erica  continued to dance through college at the University of Connecticut . Coach Erica has been teaching and coaching gymnastics since she was 15, working in her Aunts gym with the the toddler recreational students and eventually becoming the program director of a gym and its competitive gymnastics team in Rhode Island.  Coach Erica has four daughters who are all involved in Dance or Cheer in some capacity. Coach Erica loves coaching and states there is no greater excitement than watching someone land a skill after many weeks or months of hardworking, even after all these years and 100s of athletes you will still find me jumping up and down screaming !!! 

Coach Julie

**Coach Julie coaches on our competition squads, instructs our Beginner and Intermediate Cheer & Stunting class and assists with our beginner and intermediate tumbling classes. She also offers personal training sessions.**

Coach Julie has a rich coaching background with 8 years of experience in cheerleading, having worked with athletes of various age groups and skill levels. Her coaching journey began at a parochial school in Pennsylvania, followed by two years coaching at Heritage High School. For the past five years, she has been a dedicated coach with the Upper Loudoun Youth Football League.

Throughout her career, Coach Julie has had the privilege of mentoring athletes ranging from ages 4 to 15. Her experience includes coaching the Heritage High School freshman cheer squad after relocating to Virginia, as well as leading beginner and intermediate cheer classes here at NOVA. Her work with the Upper Loudoun Youth Football League has also provided valuable opportunities to shape young athletes' growth.

Coaching cheerleading is both a passion and a rewarding experience for Coach Julie. She is deeply committed to helping athletes develop not only their cheerleading skills but also their confidence, teamwork, and enthusiasm for the sport. There is nothing more fulfilling to her than witnessing an athlete's progress and knowing she has contributed to their journey of growth and success.

Coach Kendall

 **Coach Kendall instructs in many of our class offerings here at NOVA and assists with our competitive teams. She also offers personal training sessions. Check out her private instruction availability under the bookings section of our website**

Kendall joined the staff at NOVA in April 2023 and has been a wonderful addition in leading our classes, lessons and assisting with our teams. Kendall started cheering at 7 years old with SYA in her hometown of Centreville. During her 3 years there,  her team managed to win many 1st place awards and even won first place at U.S. Finals! Kendall moved on to cheering with Phase Cheer and Dance where she competed at Junior and Senior Level 2, and at just the age 12, she made their Senior Level 4 team. Kendall also cheered for her middle school and into high school on the JV and Varsity squads. After graduating, Kendall worked for the Fairfax County Police Dept. and is now working on her bachelor's degree in exercise science. Kendall is passionate about seeing through the skills development and advancement of athletes she works with at NOVA and is excited to be part of the growth of our gym. We are so fortunate to have her!

Coach Kait

**Coach Kait is an assistant coach on our competitive teams**

Coach Kait has been a part of the NOVA staff family since 2022. She enjoys working with athletes to attain skills and reach their goals throughout each season. She is an integral part of the success of our teams. We are fortunate to have her as a mentor for our athletes.

Kristi Purma, PT DPT

 **Kristi Purma is a licensed Physical Therapist specializing in athlete development, injury prevention, and performance optimization. With extensive experience in movement assessment and corrective training, Kristi supports NOVA athletes by helping them move safely, efficiently, and confidently both on and off the mat.

Her approach focuses on improving strength, mobility, alignment, and body mechanics to reduce injury risk and enhance athletic performance. Kristi provides individualized movement screenings, targeted corrective exercises, and ongoing education to ensure athletes understand their bodies and train with proper technique.

Dedicated, knowledgeable, and athlete-centered, Kristi plays a key role in promoting long-term health, strong fundamentals, and overall physical readiness for every member of NOVA Cheer Elite.

Coach Bridget

 **Coach Bridget has been a dedicated and valued member of the NOVA team since its inception five seasons ago. She is both a standout athlete and an active participant in our Junior Coaching Program, where she is developing her leadership and mentoring skills.**

In addition to her involvement as a member of our teams, in her role as a Junior Coach, Bridget is always bringing energy, reliability, and a positive attitude to every practice.

Bridget also brings over eight years of cheerleading experience, having trained under Coach Shannon since her early days in D-League cheer with ULYFL. Her passion for the sport, combined with her ability to connect with younger athletes, makes her a strong role model. She is eager to share her knowledge and help foster confidence and growth in every athlete she works with.

Coach Brooke

**Coach Brooke is a member of our Junior Coaching Program for our competitive teams, an assistant instructor on our Show Teams and assists in many of our classes here at NOVA. She is also an athlete and Team Captain on our competitive teams**

Brooke brings over ten years of cheerleading experience and a deep passion for the sport to our coaching staff. She began her cheer career with ULYFL in D League and continued cheering through middle school. In high school, she made an immediate impact by earning a spot on both the Varsity Football Cheer and Competitive Cheer teams at Woodgrove High School as a freshman.

Brooke has also been a dedicated competitive athlete at NOVA since the gym first opened, demonstrating commitment, leadership, and a strong work ethic. Her love for cheer is contagious, and she takes pride in inspiring and empowering the next generation of athletes. Brooke is passionate about helping each athlete grow in confidence, skill, and teamwork — both on and off the mat.

Coach Evva

**Coach Evva is a member of our Junior Coaching Program and serves as an Assistant Instructor for our Show Teams. In addition to her coaching roles, she is also a dedicated athlete serving as a team captain and a “Gym Big Sister” within our competitive teams, providing mentorship and support to younger athletes.**

Evva has been a part of the NOVA family since the gym first opened five seasons ago. Her commitment, leadership, and passion for the sport have made her a strong role model both on and off the mat. She has a natural ability to connect with younger athletes, and she takes pride in sharing her knowledge, experience, and love for cheerleading to help them grow and succeed.

Beyond NOVA, Evva has an extensive background in cheerleading. She spent several years cheering with ULYFL and was a freshman member of the Loudoun Valley High School Varsity Football Cheer team, as well as the Varsity Competition Squad. Her well-rounded experience as both an athlete and a coach continues to be an asset to our program.

Coach Molly

 **Coach Molly has been a dedicated and valued member of the NOVA Cheer for the past four seasons. She is a member of our Junior Coaching Program and also serves as an assistant instructor in classes, consistently demonstrating a strong work ethic, leadership, and enthusiasm.

In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Coach Molly is a hardworking athlete who brings positivity, discipline, and teamwork to every practice. Her ability to connect with younger athletes and her passion for mentoring make her an exceptional role model. She takes pride in helping athletes build confidence, master new skills, and foster a love for the sport.

Coach Molly’s commitment to growth—both in her own development and in supporting others—continues to make a lasting impact on our community at NOVA