★ 5

We’ve been part of X-Cel Athletics for 7 years, and we love everything about this program! From the Tiny Prep team all the way to a Worlds team, there is truly a place for everyone. Every athlete receives incredible coaching that not only helps them succeed in their current season but also sets them up for future success in cheer and beyond.

X-Cel is so much more than cheerleading—it teaches life lessons like hard work, dedication, time management, and teamwork. It builds confidence and creates friendships that last a lifetime.

Owner Melanie truly cares for every athlete and family like they are her own. You can tell her whole heart is in this program, and it shows in everything she does.

Whether you’re looking for a class or team to match your child’s skill level, time commitment, or budget, X-Cel has something to offer. If you’re considering giving it a try—do it! You won’t be disappointed.

Source: Google

★ 5

We absolutely LOVE Step One/Xcel Athletics. We are now in our 13th Season of all star cheer, 8 of which have been at Step One. My 3 girls spend MANY hours each week in the gym and have grown tremendously, not only in their physical skills but their confidence, organizational skills, and the list goes on! Being part of the teams at Step One means we are part of a family! The owner, the director, and ALL the coaches care about ALL the kids, from the youngest 3 year old athletes to the post-high school aged athletes. They are welcoming, friendly but set high expectations which is why they produce WINNING teams! Whether you are looking to simply learn tumbling skills in a once a week class, or looking to go all in and be a part of a year-long team (or anything in between), I HIGHLY recommend Step One North!

Source: Google

★ 5

First I would truly like to say how thankful I am that this gym afforded my daughter with an opportunity to join one of their teams after our previous gym abruptly closed. They were so warm and welcoming. They also took the time to assess my daughter’s skills and gave her direction on how to be a better athlete. This was a great decision for my daughter and she truly feels like a part of the cheer family.

Source: Google

★ 1

Maybe this place is good, but for the one class that I took my 7 year old too it was a terrible experience. It was just my daughter and one other girl and the 4 high school "teachers" just sat there socializing instead of helping the girls who were clearly struggling. When one of the teachers did finally get up she asked if they needed any help. My daughter said yes and the other said no, so the teachers response was that they could figure it out on their own since they both didn't need help. My daughter was very upset as she was really excited to do this class.

Source: Google

★ 5

Great organization. Good people and plenty of opportunities for kids of all ages and experience.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

We felt included from day one. It feels like a big family. My daughter's coach, Olivia, is simply wonderful - patient, excited, kind, knowledgeable, encouraging and still sets clear expectations so my daughter feels confident she can achieve her goals. The owners answered all my many questions with kindness, which I really appreciated, too.

Source: Google

★ 5

I am so incredibly impressed with this gym in hopes of getting my daughter ready for school cheer tryouts. Her jumps look great and she nailed her round off back handspring tonight at her first football game.

Just as important as the cheers she has learned, she feels an incredible amount of support from her coaches. She is more confident in attempting new skills. The coaches push her to go slightly beyond her comfort zone and hype her when she does well. She leaves every single class feeling excited about things she did well at and when she is struggling will tell me exactly what she was told to do better next time.

I am so thankful we found this gym to help my daughter move to a higher level with her skills!

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Great place!!

Source: Google

★ 5

My family was a part of the X-Cel family for over seven years, and we couldn't have been happier with the way we were treated. Each coach takes the time to carefully develop a plan of action for each athlete's skill set which gets implemented into the larger group (team). The owner, Melanie, and her highly accredited staff would do anything to ensure that the athletes feel welcome, safe, and part of something bigger than just cheer -- A FAMILY! At no point did our family feel as if they were discriminatory or unfair; everything was done as a result of the passion they all share for the sport of cheerleading. Of all of the gyms in the Northeast Ohio area, I would have no reservation whatsoever of recommending a competitive cheerleader to go to X-Cel Athletics and Step One North.

Source: Google

★ 5

This is our 4th year at Xcel and we’ve had an exceptional experience! The coaching staff has been amazing- my daughter has had continuous improvement in her skills while learning to work hard as a team. The owner of the gym is actively involved and has been an outstanding mentor to my daughter. I would definitely recommend this gym for a great all around experience!

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

My daughter started going to Xcel athletics when she was 7 years old. We started on a regional team, being that I had no experience with competitive cheer and really had no idea what it entailed. We have been with Melanie and her coaches for over five years now. She has been double teaming on Nationals since that first season and loving every minute of it! I cannot even believe how much my daughter has grown. She has grown physically, mentally and emotionally! I never knew how much cheer could mean to my daughter and us as parents. She has been through both good times and rough times, and with the help of her coaches and all of the staff at now Step One North absolutely flourished.

I also have a granddaughter that is three years old and she was also involved in tumbling at the gym. She absolutely loved it as well and her coaches just love her. It is so evident when she walks into the gym. She also loves watching all of the older girls when they practice and compete and I know she will be involved in the competitive program when she is old enough.

I can not say enough wonderful things about this gym and the love and support they not only give their athletes but the families. I would, and do, highly recommend Step One Allstars North to anyone who is thinking about this kind of program! They are the best!

Source: Google

★ 5

Eight years ago our daughter wanted to learn competitive cheer. I asked around for recommendations. I was told about a new gym that was very family-friendly. I found that they employed highly trained coaches with years of experience including some who were trained nurses. I'm so happy that I am trusting my child to Melanie (the owner) and her staff. My daughter not only has learned to tumble and cheer at a much higher level than we ever expected, but, she is well prepared for school cheer. She has so much confidence. She is very physically fit and has developed lifelong friendships and relationships with many of the coaches and other athletes.

Source: Google

★ 4

Source: Google

★ 5

I have sent my daughter to tumbling classes, as well as cheer boot camps to get her ready for school cheerleading for the past eight years. There are many different coaches to choose from. They are family oriented. I can drop my daughter off and leave her there to take whatever classes are available that night or Saturday morning. The owner, Melanie, is approachable and available to answer questions whenever I need. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Source: Google

★ 1

Billing statements were confusing and riddled with errors. Billing questions and requests for clarification were most often ignored, while demands for payment were often abrupt, curt, and aggressive. Promised sibling discount was later denied based upon an undisclosed “policy” that discriminates against modern blended families. Confidentiality of billing dispute was repeatedly violated by sharing details of that dispute with third parties. Illness policy removes virtually all discretion from parents as to what is best for their sick children. In our experience (we have two older daughters who cheered on the west side), sick kids were expected to attend practice but never required to participate. This gym reserves the right to require a child with a high fever to practice with her team, jeopardizing the health of the sick child and exposing the otherwise healthy team mates to contagious infection. In support of this policy, gym owner, Melanie Vitale stated “as a gym, the risk (to the sick child and healthy team mates) is a risk we are willing to take.” During winter, the grounds of the gym are not properly winterized, often making entrance and exit of the building a dangerous proposition. Parents are sometimes expected to bring children to practice during severe weather emergencies and children are penalized for failing to attend practice, even if road conditions preclude safe travel to practice. We have two daughters at Step 1 North. Melanie openly favors one daughter over the other, showering one with multiple gifts and praise while avoiding any interaction with the other, causing both sisters to be extremely uncomfortable. If you are divorced, be extra wary, as in our experience, Melanie seems all too anxious to try to pit one divorced parent against the other to support her own position/desire. We chose this gym because it was known to have a good training program. In the end, however, we found the negatives far outweigh any positives. We no longer trust the gym to take care of, much less mentor, our daughters. They will finish out the cheer season and we will not be returning. Our advice, find another gym.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Really enjoyed the preschool class!

Source: Google

★ 1

Source: Google

★ 3

Source: Google

★ 4

Great set of teams and tumbling from young rec to advanced teen. They are winners

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 1

Source: Google