S P OT L I G H T
Fit for Royalty
Marisa Johnson puts an athletic twist on cheer and tumbling By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
M
arisa Johnson was a competitive all-star cheerleader during her time at Boulder Creek High
School. Little did she know the two would come together. Seven years ago, on New Year’s Eve, she opened AZ Royals to turn cheerleaders and tumblers into a well-conditioned and mentally fit athletes. The competitive cheer program stresses respect, while the power tumbling program is under the USA Gymnastics umbrella. “Our staff takes pride in our ability to focus on each individual,” Johnson says. “It is important for our staff to teach students to excel in all areas of cheerleading and tumbling. “Our staff strongly believes that our success originates from the dedication and commitment of our athletes and parents. Not only do we strive for success through the cheer program, but we also encourage positive attitudes and respectful behaviors among our students.” AZ Royals was forced to close in March, due to COVID-19, but reopened at the end of May because the company is branded a youth and recreational program. Johnson used the COVID-19-forced closure to rebrand to Arizona Royals with new colors: silver, red, black and white.
Arizona Royals offers tumbling, recreational cheer and Arizona Royals All-Star, the latter of which is an elite cheer program.
24
85085 | AUGUST 2020
“We’re trying to rebrand and give it a facelift ,” she says. “We’re still following strict guidelines. We have 10 tumbling kids at a time. It’s nice because all of our panel mats are 6 feet apart. “Unfortunately, we can’t stunt with any of the kids. They can’t touch each other. We have different workouts for them in order to help them maintain that stretch. We’re working on tumbling, jumps, strength and conditioning, and flexibility.”
Young start Johnson wasn’t planning on opening a cheer gym. It just fell in her lap. “I started coaching and then I acquired the gym after that,” she says. “I just love cheer. We incorporate fitness into our program with personal trainers and instructors who are catered toward adults, too. “We also do recreational tumbling classes as well for those who aren’t ready to compete. They can come in and work on tumbling skills at any level or age group.” Its focus is competitive cheering throughout the Valley at local competitions. The organization does travel out of state a couple times a year. “The program is based on kids who are Marisa Johnson helms Arizona Royals in Anthem, where she provides disciplined training in all-star cheerleading and tumbling. (Photos courtesy Marisa Johnson)
