Giving Back: Spirit FX

Giving Back: Spirit FX

If there was one thing that you want Spirit FX to say to the industry, what would that be? “Remain humble, and work hard” ~ Kyle Gadke

For those of us who are heavily engaged in the competitive cheer world, whether it be high school or all star, we think of this sport and all of the expenses to make it to the big stage with our athletes looking performance perfect with big bows and cutting edge uniforms. Our athletes spend countless hours in the gym perfecting skills in their Nike Pros at top-of-the-line gyms and fully equipped facilities. This time of year the big talk is skills camp, choreography and music- all essential to be competitive in this sport.

What we may not realize is that all over the world there are also non-profit centers and programs starting their recreational teams up for the season, and not only are they desperately searching for camp opportunities, music and routines for their children, but the financial struggle is very real for these athletes and their families. Many of these programs charge little to no tuition, and are often led by volunteer coaches who truly give their time and energy for the sake of bringing this form of physical activity to children who may not have the opportunity otherwise.

Spirit FX owner, Kyle Gadke, saw this need in his area and took it upon himself to look for a way to help. After holding many camps throughout the years, he found his company was financially in a place to do something special for those less fortunate – and the ‘Spirit FX Give Back’ was born. He brought this idea up to his staff during a training session and every one of them wanted to donate their time to this amazing program. This give-back program kicked off its inaugural camp in Fall 2013, with some initial states including Kentucky, New York and Colorado with other possible states that include Missouri and Illinois. Not only are camps being held for cheerleaders from low income areas, these camps are being opened up to the general public, school and foster homes! These athletes are going to have the camp experience most take for granted, run by experienced and talented instructors. Music, camp, t-shirts – they will be getting it all! Kyle states,” I have been very blessed with amazing clientele and we had enough profits at the end of year to put something on like this. We had several of our vendors step in to provide free music, apparel and bows as well as our staff more than willing to donate their time.”

What is Spirit FX? Spirit FX (formally known as Midwest Cheer FX until 2010) started in 2004 with just one choreography client. They offer a Choreography and Skills Camp Company that travels around the country providing innovative choreography and top level skills camps to anyone in need at a competitive and affordable price. To date, they have 24 staff members, hold approximately 300 camps per year and have worked with hundreds of teams each year from around the World.

Kyle is the Owner, Head Choreographer and Head Skills Instructor of Spirit FX, LLC. His highest accomplishments in the 2012-2013 season consisted of a Top 5 finish at the USASF Cheerleading Worlds in Orlando, FL and a 1st place Championship at the NCA Collegiate Nationals Competition in Daytona Beach, FL. Kyle believes in and strives to provide charity camps and events each year for inner city and low-income High School and Rec. Programs to make sure as many children as possible can be exposed to a camp experience, regardless of any financial burdens are demographic struggles.

Kyle has been in the cheerleading industry for 11 years at various gyms around the Midwest in many different roles. This is his 10th year as a coach, 9th year as a choreographer and 8th year as a head judge. Kyle started his coaching career at All-star Gymnastics and continued on to Coach at Cheer LegendZ. Kyle then went on to coach at Platinum Athletics during their first two inaugural years from 2009-2011. During that time, he co-coached the Level 5 Coed Worlds Team to the USASF Cheerleading Worlds in 2010 with an At-Large Bid and in 2011 with a Full-Paid Bid in which the team placed 18th in World; the highest placement in Missouri’s history.

During the 2011-2012 season, Kyle moved to Chicago to pursue the opportunity as a Program/Floor Director at Famous Athletics in Woodridge, IL and a Coach at Ultimate Athletics in Wauconda, IL. He then moved back in September of 2012 to pursue coaching at Platinum Athletics where he currently resides as a head coach of Junior 1 Frost, Senior 2 Diamonds and Senior Coed Level 5 Onyx. Onyx currently has a partial-paid bid to the 2014 Cheerleading Worlds. Kyle is also USASF safety certified levels 1-5 in stunts, tumbling and baskets.

Kyle graduated from Lindenwood University in 2009 with a degree in Business Administration & Marketing and a Minor in Psychology. While at Lindenwood, he was a part of the nationally ranked Coed Cheerleading team and competed at the NCA College National Competition in Daytona Beach, FL, leading the team as a captain 2007-2009 and to a 2nd place finish in 2007, the highest in the school’s history at the time.

As a competitor, Kyle cheered at North Cedar High School for three years as well as Iowa Allstars. While in college, he cheered at other competitive international programs in the Chicago area such as ICE Athletics, Illinois Cheer Company and Extreme Cheer and Dance Force – all receiving bids to the USASF Cheerleading Worlds. Kyle was also a last minute substitute on Hot Cheer’s International Open Coed 4 team.

Kyle is a Territory Accounts Manager for GK Elite Sportswear, where he earned highest sales in the company in 2012. In his spare time, he is a judge for Champion Spirit Group and the AAU as well as Head Judge and Production Manager for Midwest Cheer and Dance Association. He also offers consulting to gym owners around the country educating gym owners how to generate more revenue, train their coaching staff to work as a cohesive unit, assists in training to understand the score sheets better, fundraising and other gym functions. Kyle was recently featured in the Fall 2013 Issue of Cheer Professional Magazine (http://thecheerprofessional.com/), one of the cheer industry’s leading magazines as well as a guest speaker on ‘ My Fierce Connection’ where he spoke on a Webinar to help educate coaches on maximizing the Jam Brands score sheets.

In his spare time, Kyle enjoys spending time with his two dogs (Keagan and Marly), traveling the World and recently has gotten into weight lifting and health training. His favorite quote is “Hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard!”

For more information on Spirit FX and their services, please visit:

http://spiritfx.net/

Are you a High School or Recreational Program and you have never had a Cheerleading Camp Experience? Are you in a low-income area where your cheerleaders can’t afford to pay for camp services? Send us an email at info@spiritfx.net telling us about your program and explaining how you would benefit from a FREE Spirit FX Charity Camp. All Charity Camps receive a Free 1-2 Skills or Choreography Camp, FREE Music and FREE Cheerleading Apparel.

http://spiritfx.net/charity/