Small Gym September: Meet Universal Athletics

FloCheer spotlights small gyms that elevate All Star cheer and build champions. Meet Universal Athletics from Murray, Kentucky!

Sep 24, 2025 by Ava Jackson

Small Gym September: Meet Universal Athletics

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 story of Universal Athletics, a family owned gym that has created a community of athletes for the past 24 years!

Quick hits with Universal Athletics:

Location: Murray, Kentucky
First Year: 2002
Number of Teams This Season: 10
Website - Click here for more

The Story of Universal Athletics:

"As the daughter of the owners of Universal Athletics, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to grow up in a gym that feels like home to so many. Located in the small town of Murray, Kentucky, Universal Athletics has spent the last 24 seasons building not only successful athletes from Levels 1 through 6, but also strong, kind and resilient people. What makes our gym so special is the family atmosphere, where parents and athletes become apart of something bigger than themselves. Families drive from over 10 different schools and communities, with some traveling more than an hour and a half just to be apart of what my parents created. I’ve seen first-hand the milestones—from being on our first D2 Summit team, to our first Worlds team, to coaching our first Youth Summit team. Through it all, the mission has remained the same: to grow talented athletes, but more importantly, to shape amazing humans within a true home away from home."

- Savannah Scott, daughter of Aaron and Joelle Scott, the owners of Universal Athletics

Fun Facts about Universal Athletics:

Owners, Aaron and Joelle Scott both cheered for the Cleveland Cavaliers
They have athletes from over 10 school districts
They celebrate their wins with a pancake breakfast
Athlete pairings through a big/little sister program

Noteworthy Accomplishments:

2022 Mini 2 – CHEERSPORT National Champions
2023 Youth 2 – Youth Summit Finalist
2024 Tiny 1 – JAMfest Super National Champions
2024 Junior 5 – JAMfest Super National Champions
2024 Junior 5 – D2 Summit Runner-Up
2024 & 2025 Junior 5 – D2 Summit Finalist
2024 Senior 5 Coed – D2 Summit Top 10 Finalist

Universal Athletics’ goal this year is to attend the Youth Summit, the D2 Summit, and The Cheerleading Worlds. At these events, they aim to deliver zero-deduction routines and have every team advance to finals. FloCheer congratulates them on their past accomplishments and wishes them the best of luck this upcoming season!

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