MOUNTAIN ELITE TEAM & TESTIMONIALS

MOUNTAIN ELITE
ALL STAR CHEER & TUMBLING
We began with a few small group and private tumbling classes in 2020, and officially became Mountain Elite in 2021! We offer low-commitment tumbling classes and one-on-one lessons for every age and skill level as well as All-Star competitive and performance based cheer teams that train year round. Athletes are involved in the High Country community, perform locally, and compete regionally.
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Check us out!​
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Follow us for pictures and videos of our local athletes @mountainelite on Instagram!
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MANDI HOOD
OWNER & PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Hi! I'm Amanda Christine Power Hood, but you can call me Mandi or "Coach." I moved to Boone, NC in the spring of 2019 from New York City, and started Mountain Elite in summer of 2020!
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Experience
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Owner and Program Director of Mountain Elite
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Head Coach of St. John's University Cheer in NYC (Div I)
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Cheer and dance judge for UCA and NCA competitions
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STUNT official for the Public School Athletic League of NYC
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Camp, clinic, choreography instructor for youth, high school, and college teams
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St. John's University co-ed cheer team captain
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Quest Athletics competitive athlete in Pine Bush, NY
Certifications:
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US All Star Federation (USAF) Member Coach
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USA Cheer Safety & Risk Management
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USA Cheer - Coaching Young Athletes
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SafeSport Trained (Abuse Prevention)
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CDC Heads Up - Concussion Training
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Red Cross First Aid for Coaches
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Positive Coaching Alliance - Coaching with Empathy

JESSICA GOTT
COACH
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JESSICA GOTT​
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COACHES ALL STAR CHEER TEAMS, CLINICS AND TUMBLING CLASSES
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CERTIFICATIONS:
US All Star Federation (USAF) Member Coach
SafeSport Trained (Abuse Prevention)
CDC Heads Up - Concussion Training
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Meet Coach Jessica! Jessica is from Wake Forest, NC and is a senior at Appalachian State Univeristy where she is the President of App's Club Cheer team. She is majoring in Social Work with a Minor in American Sign Language. Jessica has been cheering for 13 years! She was on all star and school teams growing up, and went on to be an instuctor with Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) for 3 years. Jessica is in her second year as a coach at Mountain Elite.

SAIGE SPOON
SAIGE SPOON​
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COACHES ALL STAR CHEER TEAMS AND OFFERS PRIVATE LESSONS
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CERTIFICATIONS:
US All Star Federation (USAF) Member Coach
SafeSport Trained (Abuse Prevention)
CDC Heads Up - Concussion Training
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Meet Coach Saige! Saige is a national champion from High Point, North Carolina that cheered at Cheer Extreme Saige has been involved in dance, gymnastics and cheer since she was very young, has a silver medal from Wolds and a gold from Summit! Saige is a junior at App State studying elementary education.
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COACH
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EMMA HEANEY
COACH & OPERATIONS ASSISTANT
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EMMA HEANEY​
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COACHES ALL STAR CHEER TEAMS AND OFFERS PRIVATE LESSONS
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CERTIFICATIONS:
US All Star Federation (USAF) Member Coach
SafeSport Trained (Abuse Prevention)
CDC Heads Up - Concussion Training
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Meet Coach Emma! Emma is a 2x national champion from Winston Salem who cheered at Cheer Extreme Allstars. She was also a varsity cheerleader all 4 years of high school, served as captain, worked with a special needs team, and won a bronze medal at Worlds! She was a political science pre-law major at App State and graduated in December 2024. Emma is in her third year of coaching at Mountain Elite.

KELSEY HAINES
COACH
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KELSEY HAINES​
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COACHES TUMBLING CLASSES, LESSONS & CLINICS
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CERTIFICATIONS:
CDC Heads Up - Concussion Training
CNA
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Meet Coach Kelsey! Kelsey is from Matthews, North Carolina and is a junior at Appalachian State majoring in nursing with a minor in medical humanities. She cheered in middle and high school where she won 3 state championships and placed 7th at high school nationals! Kelsey currently competes as a member of the App State Club Cheer team where she served as Vice President. Tumbling is her favorite aspect of cheer because she is able to continuously learn new skills and ways to improve her technique.

BELLA RACANO
BELLA RACANO​
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ALL STAR CHEER COACH. 25-26 TEAM TBD
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CERTIFICATIONS:
CDC Heads Up - Concussion Training
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Meet Coach Bella! She is from Charlotte, NC and currently a sophomore at App studying psychology. Bella cheered at Charlotte All Stars for 6 years before coming to Boone and joining the App State Club Cheer team where she currently serves in a leadership role as their HR officer. She has coached several cheer teams and recreational classes at Charlotte All Stars.
COACH
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GRACIE CROOKS
COACH
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GRACIE CROOKS
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COACHES TUMBLING CLASSES, LESSONS & CLINICS
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CERTIFICATIONS:
CDC Heads Up - Concussion Training​
Meet Coach Gracie! Gracie is from Buis Creek, NC and is a marketing major at Appalachian State. She has been a cheerleader for 13 years with experience on recreation teams, middle and high school and now competing with the App State Club Cheer team.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY


KIM, CHEER MOM
When first hearing about Mountain Elite, I thought it would be a great way for my daughter to improve her tumbling skills for dance. We signed up for individual lessons last summer and my daughter really enjoyed working with her coach. Towards the end of summer, she told me that she thought cheer would be something fun for her to do in addition to dance. So, I reached out to Coach Mandi. With Ella already enrolled in several dance classes as well as on a competitive dance team, I didn’t want to overwhelm her. And that’s when we found out about the youth novice teams. It was a perfect fit for Ella being new to cheer and already being committed to dance. Ella had the best experience this cheer season! She learned new skills and her confidence grew in amazing ways. She learned the importance of teamwork and is excited for another season!

AMANDA, CHEER MOM
Mountain Elite has opened doors for Scarlett that go far beyond cheer. Yes, she’s learned skills, stunts, and routines — but more importantly, she’s gained confidence, discipline, and true friendships. The bonds she’s formed with her teammates are more than friendships — they’re sisterhoods that I know will grow with her for years to come.
She shines so brightly with positivity and self-assurance, and I see the impact of every coach, every staff member, and every moment spent within those gym walls. The encouragement, motivation, and guidance she receives have helped shape her not just as an athlete, but as a person.
As parents, we pour everything we can into raising strong, kind, and capable kids. But it’s the people around them — those who choose to show up, guide, and invest in them — who help complete the picture. The Mountain Elite family has stepped into that role in every way. You care. You commit. You correct with love. You celebrate their wins and help them grow through challenges.

ASHLEE, CHEER MOM
The Mountain Elite program and its wonderful coaches have been such a blessing to our family. I wasn't sure about my 9-year old trying out for competition cheer, but it turned out to be one of the decisions I've made. My child blossomed into a confident, self assured young lady. She made 12 new best friends. She had people who believed in her, who pushed her beyond what she thought was possible. It didn't matter how many bear crawls she had to do, how sweaty and exhausted she was after practice, how many times a stunt fell, she was always so happy when I picked her up. She had coaches who truly cared about each athlete on their team and went above and beyond to show that care and love.
Cheer is not about hair bows and makeup; it's not about winning or losing. It's about the experiences, the friendships, and the life lessons learned along the way.

AMY, CHEER MOM
At 9 years old, my daughter developed a passion for cheerleading, leading us to discover Mountain Elite Allstar cheer. Under the guidance of the Director and Coaches, she has grown into a skilled Elite All Star cheerleader. The program's family-oriented atmosphere, fostered by supportive parents and friendships, has been instrumental in building her confidence and self-esteem, allowing her to excel on stage. We appreciate the Mountain Elite program and the outstanding coaches, parents and friendships.

KAYT, CHEER MOM
We have had a wonderful experience with Mountain Elite over the past three years. We built lifelong friendships, both my daughter and our family. My daughter has learned how to navigate through life lessons while building her self esteem. She obviously grew as an athlete, but she learned so much more than just the physical aspect. She learned how to be part of a team, how to lose, how to win, and how to be a good team member.

KAITLYN, CHEER MOM
I just want to thank you for an incredible season for my daughter She has grown so much on and off the mat this year. I am so proud of her. She’s made some amazing bonds with some of her Mountain Elite family. I am so appreciative of you and all the hard work you’ve put in to make this program. My daughter truly loves it and s already counting down to next year.

Mountain Elite is a proud member of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce as well as the U.S. All Star Federation for Cheer and Dance
