Inside The Evolution of Javon “Jay” Kendrick and the New Era of Professional Cheerleading

At a Glance: Javon “Jay” Kendrick

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Started Cheer: Age 15
Signature Strengths: Elite tumbling, one-arm stunting, precision technique
Known For: “Efficient obsession” training mindset

Jay Kendrick’s rise from a self-taught tumbler in St. Louis to a leading voice in the Pro Cheer League shows how one athlete’s discipline can help reshape an entire sport.

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“I started cheering because my little sister was,” he says. “But once I learned how to flip, I was hooked.”

That same drive—quiet, focused, defiant—has carried Kendrick from a midwestern gym to the national stage. He’s worn uniforms for Platinum Athletics, Cheer Athletics Cheetahs, Navarro College, California All Stars SMOED, University of Alabama Spirit, and Team USA. Now, he’s wearing something new: the blue of Miami Metal, one of the founding teams of the Pro Cheer League.

Leaving Home

Kendrick’s story changed course the year he turned 17.

His family moved from Missouri to Texas after he earned a spot with Cheer Athletic Cheetahs, one of the country’s most competitive programs. “My mom told me, ‘If you make the team, we’ll figure it out,’” he recalls. “And she did, we lived in an extended-stay hotel that whole year.”

That season, the Cheetahs went undefeated and Kendrick earned his first championship ring when they won the title at Majors, followed by Super Nationals. After the comp, his mom told him that his Grandma had passed away, likely during the event.

“I was devastated,” he says. “But it made me realize why I was doing this—to make her proud. I put everything I had into that year.”

The season turned him from a gifted tumbler into a purpose-driven athlete. “I learned that you need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” he says. “That’s when you grow the most.”

Every Stop, a Lesson

Each stop along Kendrick’s path sharpened a different part of him.

From Platinum Athletics, he learned humility and work ethic. From Cheer Athletics, discipline and accountability. From Navarro, precision and patience. From Alabama, leadership. From Team USA, how to represent something larger than yourself.

Technique Over Talent

Ask Kendrick what separates good from great, and he won’t talk about skills. He’ll talk about his lines.

“When I got to Navarro, I realized I could throw big skills but not clean ones,” he says. “I started watching myself on video—feet apart, legs bent, toes flexed. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the difference between being a tumbler and being a professional.”

That precision shows in his favorite sequence: an Arabian to kick double full. “It makes the audience stop,” he says. “That’s how I want to be known—you have to stop and watch.”

Stunting tells a similar story. His signature move is the one-arm, a skill he describes as both physical and symbolic. “It’s the moment that says, ‘I’ve got this,’” he says. “It’s about control and confidence.”

The Meaning of “Professional”

Kendrick is part of the sport’s most significant experiment yet—the moment cheerleading moves from an amateur identity into a true professional system. For him, that word means more than paychecks or exposure.

“Being a professional cheerleader means leading on and off the mat,” he says. “It’s a responsibility. The people before us worked too hard for us not to get this right. This league isn’t just about us—it’s about who comes next.”

He quotes the Spider-Man line almost jokingly, but you can tell he believes it: With great power comes great responsibility.

Lessons from the Legends

Kendrick credits his coaches as much as his own work ethic.

“The Rosarios are geniuses,” he says of Kristen and Victor Rosario, who now lead Miami Metal. “They’re so innovative—it’s an honor to learn from them.”

From Cheer Athletics overall, he learned discipline. From Courtney Odell, emotional control: “Emotions lose championships.” From Derek Jackson, how to handle tough coaching. From Eddie Rios, gratitude. “He took a chance on me,” Kendrick says. “I told him I wouldn’t let him down.”

Redefining the Standard

When Miami Metal hits the floor for the first time this season, Kendrick wants fans—and especially young athletes—to see something more than just elite skill.

“I want them to see proof,” he says. “Proof that no matter where you come from, you can reach a professional level. I’m from St. Louis. I wasn’t supposed to make it here. But here we are.”

He also hopes the league helps shift how the public views men in cheerleading. “People will always have opinions,” he says. “But if you live for their approval, you’ll never grow.”

Innovative. Dedicated. Unstoppable.

Those are the three words Jay Kendrick uses to describe Miami Metal—and himself.

“Our roster pulls from everywhere,” he says. “Different programs, different styles. That kind of mix forces you to adapt. It builds resilience. We’ll make it work—because we have to.”

He pauses, then smiles the way athletes do when they know they’re part of something historic.

“This is just the beginning,” he says. “Pro cheer is here. And we’re ready to set the standard.”

My Note:

Jay Kendrick represents the future of professional cheer as I see it, a hybrid of grit, intellect, and discipline who can see beyond winning. He isn’t just building his résumé, he’s building a framework that honors what cheer had been, and celebrates what this sport can become.

He’s proof that professionalism isn’t about the spotlight. It’s about what you do when the lights go off.

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