Small Gym September: Meet Panhandle Hurricanes Allstar Cheer

After surviving a Category 5 Hurricane in 2018, this program shows that out of tragedy and devastation comes grit, strength, and resilience!

Sep 23, 2025 by Amber Salas

Small Gym September: Meet Panhandle Hurricanes Allstar Cheer

FloCheer is highlighting the small gyms and programs that help elevate All Star cheer and build champion athletes on and off the mat for Small Gym September. This week, we’re sharing the inspiring story of Panhandle Hurricanes Cheer, a program that showcases that out of tragedy and devastation comes grit, strength, and resilience!

Quick hits with Panhandle Hurricanes Allstar Cheer:

Location: Panama City Beach, FL
First Year: 2019-2020 season
Number of Teams This Season: 7 teams - two novice teams, one prep team, and four elite teams
Website - Click here for more

The Story of Panhandle Hurricanes Allstar Cheer:

"Panhandle Hurricanes was born during a time when a lot of uncertainty existed for our local Bay County and surrounding area athletes. We had just survived a Category 5 Hurricane, Hurricane Michael, in 2018. We formed in 2019, and then during our very first season, COVID hit! Talk about one crazy wild ride! Nothing about our first season was normal, but then again, our local athletes hadn't known normal in quite some time. Our program was started to provide stability and more opportunities for local athletes to participate in all star cheer, and we did just that! Through Hurricane Michael and its aftermath, and through the trying times of COVID, our program provided a sense of security, belonging, and family that our athletes needed. Even with our growth over the past 6 years (we started with 29 athletes in season 1 and now have over 110 athletes in season 6), one thing always remains constant - our sense of family. The minute you walk into our gym, you are one of us. The sense of family within our program is something that is hard to describe, but it's something that stands out to everyone that walks through our doors. Once a Hurricane, Always a Hurricane!"

- Errica Swartwood, Owner of Panhandle Hurricanes Allstar Cheer

Fun Facts about Panhandle Hurricanes Allstar Cheer:

Panhandle Hurricanes was born after Category 5 Hurricane Michael devastated the panhandle of Florida. Our name shows that out of tragedy and devastation comes grit, strength, and resilience!
Almost every coach in our program has links or ties to the military. Whether they're a military spouse, or veteran, our coaches love their country fiercely!
We purchased our very own building in September 2025 - we are heading into our 1-year anniversary of our Hurricanes having their own training facility to call home. The purchase of our building is another way we are showing Bay County that we are here to stay and investing in our Bay County athletes!

Biggest Goal For The Season:

We're excited to take the stage this season and aim to stand on the podium! We feel we have more talent than we've ever had before in our program this season, and that we have formed the strongest teams our program has ever formed.

Follow Along With Small Gym September On Social:

Watch us on YouTube @FloCheer

Like us on Facebook @FloCheer