Meet your Gila Cheer Staff
Meet your Owner and Head Coach:
Hi Everyone, my name is Taylor Banks. My Husband William and, I (along with our two beautiful little girls and their Mimi and Pops) own and operate
Gila Valley All Star Cheer.
A quick background on myself, I was born and raised here in the Gila Valley. In 2011, while cheering for my high school cheer team I made the NCA All American Cheer Team, and traveled to New York City to be in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.
While in College, I made the Dance Team for The Amarillo Venom, a professional indoor arena football team based in Amarillo, Texas. After moving back to Thatcher, I volunteered to Coach for Gila Cheer and soon after expressed interest in taking over ownership. We moved to a bigger building and continued to grow Gila Cheer. Since then I’ve become a board member for the Safford Downtown Association, as well as a Board Member of the Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, I have been able to accept a scholastic coaching position within the community. I have been told that I have always had a passion for cheer. I am just grateful I get to grow my roots and bring cheer for all ages and abilities to the Gila Valley.
Hi Everyone, my name is Taylor Banks. My Husband William and, I (along with our two beautiful little girls and their Mimi and Pops) own and operate
Gila Valley All Star Cheer.
A quick background on myself, I was born and raised here in the Gila Valley. In 2011, while cheering for my high school cheer team I made the NCA All American Cheer Team, and traveled to New York City to be in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.
While in College, I made the Dance Team for The Amarillo Venom, a professional indoor arena football team based in Amarillo, Texas. After moving back to Thatcher, I volunteered to Coach for Gila Cheer and soon after expressed interest in taking over ownership. We moved to a bigger building and continued to grow Gila Cheer. Since then I’ve become a board member for the Safford Downtown Association, as well as a Board Member of the Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, I have been able to accept a scholastic coaching position within the community. I have been told that I have always had a passion for cheer. I am just grateful I get to grow my roots and bring cheer for all ages and abilities to the Gila Valley.
Meet Coach Tiarra:
Coach Tiarra Has been a cheer coach for gila cheer for 6 years. Received a scholarship to cheer at eastern Arizona college in 2015. Graduated with a bachelors degree in elementary education from NAU. She is also a kindergarten teacher and loves spending time with her family!
Coach Tiarra Has been a cheer coach for gila cheer for 6 years. Received a scholarship to cheer at eastern Arizona college in 2015. Graduated with a bachelors degree in elementary education from NAU. She is also a kindergarten teacher and loves spending time with her family!
Meet Coach Dorian:
Meet Coach Savauna
Hi my name is Savauna Burress!
I’m recently married with a beautiful 4 month old baby girl!
I have been cheering for 18 years.
I’ve worked my skills up to a level 4 and have been on two national championship teams.
Most my cheer career has been strictly Allstar but have cheered for High-school and College!
Cheerleading has always been a love of mine and I love watching and helping my girls grow confidence and learn new skills! I’m so excited to help coach this season and bring home some trophy’s for all our awesome athletes!!!
See you soon!!💗
Hi my name is Savauna Burress!
I’m recently married with a beautiful 4 month old baby girl!
I have been cheering for 18 years.
I’ve worked my skills up to a level 4 and have been on two national championship teams.
Most my cheer career has been strictly Allstar but have cheered for High-school and College!
Cheerleading has always been a love of mine and I love watching and helping my girls grow confidence and learn new skills! I’m so excited to help coach this season and bring home some trophy’s for all our awesome athletes!!!
See you soon!!💗
Meet Coach Alyssa:
I’m from Bakersfield, CA and I’ve been in the Gila Valley for 9 years. Together my husband and I have a boy, girl, dog, and 12 chickens! I cheered on a rec team for one year in middle, school and high school for 2. I still haven’t been able to control my “cheer voice” and it comes out often! 😂 I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to mentor other cheerleaders and inspire them with confidence! Working with kids here in the Gila Valley is my way of contributing to a positive change in this world.
I’m from Bakersfield, CA and I’ve been in the Gila Valley for 9 years. Together my husband and I have a boy, girl, dog, and 12 chickens! I cheered on a rec team for one year in middle, school and high school for 2. I still haven’t been able to control my “cheer voice” and it comes out often! 😂 I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to mentor other cheerleaders and inspire them with confidence! Working with kids here in the Gila Valley is my way of contributing to a positive change in this world.
Meet Coach Shenae:
Hello Gila Valley! My name is Shenae Gifford and I am so excited to coach alongside coach Tay! I danced for four years from elementary into junior high, kept active in sports through junior high, and was on the Spiritline (dance and cheer) all four years of high school while playing other sports! After high school I coached junior high Cheer for two years before moving away. I LOVED leading the school in school spirit! To this day I am a cheerleader in every aspect of life! I love to work hard and find happiness in everything I do. I love to encourage and help everyone pursue their dreams! The best part is watching my daughters grow in happiness. I can't wait to see you in CHEER!!!
Hello Gila Valley! My name is Shenae Gifford and I am so excited to coach alongside coach Tay! I danced for four years from elementary into junior high, kept active in sports through junior high, and was on the Spiritline (dance and cheer) all four years of high school while playing other sports! After high school I coached junior high Cheer for two years before moving away. I LOVED leading the school in school spirit! To this day I am a cheerleader in every aspect of life! I love to work hard and find happiness in everything I do. I love to encourage and help everyone pursue their dreams! The best part is watching my daughters grow in happiness. I can't wait to see you in CHEER!!!
