Get To Know The History Of Premier Athletics

Share This Post

Have you ever wondered how Premier Athletics came to be?

Believe it or not the idea began in a business class in the MBA program at the University of Tennessee! 

George Potter aka Boog dreamed up a plan that became a reality in 1994 when the first Premier Athletics ‘sharks’ team was formed and coached by Mike Martinez. The first actual Premier Athletics location began in 1997. 

That location would later be known as the Knoxville North location, which started with just one All Star cheerleading team. 

After that, their vision expanded into more Premier Athletics locations. 

In 1998 the Franklin, Tennessee gym was born. And in 2001 Premier Athletics spread to North Carolina, where the Clayton location was started. Murfreesboro, Tennessee in 2003 and the Knoxville West location shortly after in 2004.  

From there, our Michigan location opened in 2006 followed by Premier Athletics Northern Kentucky in 2007. 

In 2011 the tumble, dance, and little explorers academies were branded. These programs were born and developed as extensions of Premier Athletics. 

In 2016, Premier opened a new location in Columbia, Tennessee. In 2017, Gallatin, Tennessee, became the newest member of the Premier Athletics family.

In 20 years, Premier Athletics has been open in five different states in the North and Southeast with ten different locations. The program trains thousands of cheerleaders, gymnasts, dancers, and power tumblers! 

As a program, Premier Athletics has collected thousands of national titles and over 40 top 5 Summit placements, and over 15 top-five placements at The Cheerleading Worlds. Hundreds of these athletes have gone on to do some amazing things in and outside the gym. 

As the years go by, Premier Athletics will continue to grow and change as a big family but their mission statement remains the same: 

“We teach young athletes to 1. Be self-confident, 2. To do ‘their’ best, and 3. Have FUN!”

Tune in to Varsity TV on November 8th to watch all the incredibly talented teams from Premier Athletics put on a show at the 2020 Premier Athletics Showcase!


How To Watch

Join Varsity TV PRO now to stream live Varsity TV competitions and events anytime, on any device!

On Your TV: Now Available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast & Apple TV.

Cast: Cast to your smart TV including Vizio, Samsung, and LG TVs.

On The Go: Download the FloSports app on iOS or Android.

*FloCheer PRO subscribers, you can use your existing login to access to all Varsity TV premium content, live streaming competitions, and events.

FREE Gift For Varsity TV Yearly Members!

We're celebrating the start of the 2020-21 cheerleading and dance season with a token of our appreciation for ALL yearly Varsity TV members. Join now or upgrade your monthly subscription to claim this travel backpack, a $62.95 value, for FREE our thank you gift to you!

Click Here To Claim Yours Now!

Related News

Get Ready For The 2026 Youth Summit!

Get Ready For The 2026 Youth Summit!

The final climb is officially here! A total of 551 teams are heading to Tampa, Florida for the Youth Summit, all chasing their moment on one of the sport’s biggest stages. After a season of hard work, dedication, and standout performances, these teams have earned their place among the best. As the competition heats up, all eyes are on the programs that have made the climb—here are a few teams to keep on your radar as they take the floor:

Apr. 20, 2026

How To Watch The 2026 Varsity Cheer League Awards Show

How To Watch The 2026 Varsity Cheer League Awards Show

Season 4 of the Varsity Cheer League is officially in the books! Teams have been hard at work all season long earning points at Varsity All Star events to work their way to the top of the leaderboard. Now, the final 300 points of the season are on the line THIS weekend at the Aloha York Showdown. The end of the regular season means it's almost time to celebrate our 2026 Varsity Cheer League champions! Here's all you need to know about how to tune in to watch the Varsity Cheer League Awards Show where all winners will be unveiled.

Apr. 15, 2026