PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — Parents are scrambling to raise money for a national cheerleading competition after they say they paid thousands of dollars to a gym owner who never paid their children’s entrance fees.
Dozens of athletes practiced into the night at GymTyme Georgia in Hiram on Tuesday for a cheerleading competition they may not get to attend.
Parents said gym owner Craig El alerted them 24 hours before another competition last week that there was no money for the gym’s 100 athletes to compete.
“We were devastated. It was like someone dumped a cold bucket of water over our heads,” parent Jennifer Brigmon said. “He admitted he lied. I freaked out. I didn’t know what to do. We don’t have any money.”
According to parents, El took over the gym in May. Since then, they’ve paid about $4,000 per athlete in tuition and marked competition fees.
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Staff members confirm they’ve learned none of their athletes are registered for any of this season’s competitions, including the Cheersport National Championship in Atlanta next week.
“We were all blindsided by it, just like all the parents and coaches, and it was really kind of heartbreaking, honestly,” one cheerleader said.
El declined Channel 2 Action News’ request for an interview, but told Channel 2’s Ashley Swann over the phone that past due balances are to blame.
Parents and staff members said that is not true.
“He’s lying. He’s lied to all of us,” Brigmon said.
Parents are now pulling out all of the stops to raise $18,000 in entrance fees for next week’s event.
“Hopefully we can finish this season with the season they deserve,” parent Jodi Ferguson said.
El owns four gyms in three different states. None of his athletes are registered for next week’s national championship, allegedly due to unpaid fees.
Parents have set up a Go Fund Me page if you would like to help.