Trainers

Brooke began dancing at age of three, training in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Commercial, Freestyle, and Musical Theatre. She further honed her skills at Sylvia Young Theatre School, Italia Conti, and through West End productions.

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After college, Brooke chose to study BSc Television & Broadcasting at The University of Portsmouth, where she discovered a passion for cheerleading. She joined the Level 3 University Team, Portsmouth Phoenix, became Team Captain in her second year, and began coaching through the Up for Sport programme. Her dedication earned her the Contribution to the Community Award, and she was later promoted to Head Coach.

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In 2017, Brooke founded Wildcats Athletic. She now oversees all squad choreography, training, and programme development, nurturing athletes to achieve both their performance and personal potential.

Whitley started cheerleading in 2011 when she joined her local all star club, the Carshalton Cheerleaders. She loved the sport so much that she immediately joined the university team when she began her studies at the University of Portsmouth. During this year, she competed on the level 3 competition squad and the events squad. She also began her coaching career as an assistant coach in the Up for Sport programme, which teaches cheerleading in local primary and secondary schools.

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In her second year, Whitley moved to Toronto in Canada to study abroad and joined their collegiate level 7 cheer team. This was a fantastic experience she enjoyed immensely, with memories such as competing at a venue next to Niagara Falls! She returned to the UK and was a member of the level 3 competition squad whilst working full time on her placement year.

Whitley was elected to the position of President of Portsmouth Phoenix in her final year at university. In this year, she was a member of the level 3 all girl and level 4 group stunt competition squads. She also launched the club’s level 1 competition squad, coaching and choreographing this team herself. After graduation, Whitley joined the Unity Allstars programme, competing on their level 4.2 team. After two seasons, she made it onto her first worlds team - Unity Allstars Steel. She still loves to compete and has no plans to retire anytime soon!

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Having cheered at university together, Brooke offered Whitley the opportunity to join the Wildcats coaching staff in 2018. She is dedicated to teaching excellent technique, whilst encouraging athletes to show off their personalities. Whitley is committed to continuing to create an inclusive environment where all athletes feel valued and welcome. She is an active advocate for increasing the participation of black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals in cheerleading. She has loved the opportunity to pass on her knowledge and inspire the next generation of cheerleaders, and can’t wait to see the continued growth of the club!w

Izzy began her sporting journey in gymnastics, training for ten years at The Hawth Gymnastic Club. After experiencing an injury that brought her time in gymnastics to an end, she discovered her love for cheerleading and joined Wildcats in 2019.

 

Since then, Izzy has competed at Levels 1–4 and represented Wildcats at competitions both in the UK and overseas, including trips to Barcelona and Florida. Over the years, she’s developed a real passion for the sport and the sense of community it brings.

 

Izzy began coaching as a Junior Coach, later progressed to Assistant Coach, and now works as a Lead Coach within the programme. She also supports the administrative side of Wildcats, helping with organisation and coordination behind the scenes.

Sarah began her gymnastics journey at just five years old. After several years of recreational training, she joined her club’s gymnastics squad at age nine, competing regularly and specialising in floor and vault.

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In 2010, she attended the University of Hertfordshire, where she discovered her passion for cheerleading. Competing with the Hertfordshire Sirens, Sarah spent three years on the All-Girl Level 3 team as a base and two years in group stunt. During this time, she was recognised as both Tumbler of the Year and Base of the Year.

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After graduating, Sarah joined the Surrey Starlets and proudly represented the team at the 2014 Cheerleading Worlds in Disney World, Florida. Following this incredible experience, she took a short break before returning to the mat with Sparks Allstars, competing in Coed Level 6 and earning her Levels 1–6 Cheerleading Coaching Qualifications.

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In 2016, Sarah began coaching recreational and sports acrobatic gymnastics. She went on to achieve her British Gymnastics Acro Level 1 qualification, acro judging qualification and certifications in Pom and—slightly outside the cheer world—hair and beauty!

Sarah also works full time as a personal assistant and is a mum to two children. In 2022, she joined the Wildcats family, where she continues to share her love for the sport and couldn’t be happier!

Carlie has been a Wildcats coach since 2017, focusing particularly on tumbling. She grew up around dance and gymnastics since the age of 4 where she started competing at a very young age. During primary school, she decided to focus her attention on gymnastics. She has a long line of competition success behind her, winning many gold medals at each yearly competitions. Until her teens, she competed in individual artistic gymnastics (bars, beam, floor and vault) and then transitioned to team gymnastics (tumbling, vault, trampette and team floor routines) competing in regional and national competitions. Unfortunately, her gymnastics career ended due to injuries in the sport which repeated itself, resulting in ankle instabilities and too risky to continue. 

 

Years later at the University of Portsmouth, she studied BSc Psychology and also decided to join the Cheerleading team to try something different and fell in love with it. She trained, competed and represented the University alongside Rachel, Brooke,Whitley and Maddie as a level 3 base on the competition squad of Portsmouth Phoenix. Whilst at University, she studied and thrived on the sports and educational psychology units which focused on children’s learning, behaviour and effects on performance. This confirmed she wanted a career in teaching sports to young people. Then, taking up a tough year achieving a postgraduate degree in teaching secondary physical education at the University of Sussex, she has earned a QTS and is now teaching full-time at school as well as coaching at Wildcats.