Meet Our Staff

Born and raised in Topeka, KS, Coach McKaig graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 2010. She was a competitive dancer, gymnast & cheerleader growing up and upon graduation chose to continue her cheerleading career at Kansas State University.

Coach McKaig began teaching dance at the age of 16 at The Dance Factory and began her coaching career in Topeka/Lawrence at G-Force Athletics at the age of 18. She spent 5 years on staff for the Universal Cheerleaders Association where she had the opportunity to work with thousands of kids all over the country and travel internationally to Australia teaching cheer camps. Upon moving to SW Kansas to be with her now husband, she began coaching all star cheer at Diamond Athletics in Dodge City, KS while also serving as the Spirit Squad Coordinator overseeing the cheer & dance programs at Dodge City Community College.

After marrying her husband, they moved back to Topeka in May 2016. She accepted the head cheer coach position at Washburn Rural High School. In December 2016, she accepted the Head Coach position at Washburn University. After two years of balancing coaching both cheer programs & a newborn, she resigned from Washburn University in July 2019. She was the head coach at Washburn Rural where she has lead her team to one state championship & three second place finishes.

Taylor started Topeka Elite Cheer in the fall of 2020 in an effort to build a safe & positive environment for athletes of ALL ages, ALL walks of life from ALL areas of Topeka (& surrounding towns) to educate them on the importance of cheer technique, stunt & tumbling progressions so that they can achieve their goals in school cheer, competitive cheer & collegiate cheer if they choose! Taylor spends her summers working with middle school & high school programs across the state providing camps, game day competition choreography & more!

Tateum is our Assistant Director here at TEC and coaches many of our classes and teams. She was born and raised here in Topeka, Kansas and is a Washburn University alumni & graduate of Baker School of Nursing.

Tateum was a competitive dancer since the age of 5 she also competed and participated in cheerleading along the way. Following graduation from Washburn Rural in 2017 she decided to continue teaching dance and became a member of the Washburn University Cheerleading team where she cheered prior to beginning nursing school.

Tateum has continued her passion for others while working in the ER and case management department. Her favorite part about nursing is being able to connect and make a difference in patients’ lives every single day. She also enjoys how similar of an impact her coaches and teachers growing up had on her and hopes to have an impact on all of her athletes as well.

She coached at Washburn Rural High School for 6 years. Tateum has been a part of helping choreograph and coach the school competition teams & is excited to continue doing the same with our All Star Cheer teams at TEC.

“There is no better feeling than watching your kids walk off the mat knowing they did the best they possibly could for themselves and their teammates. There is no better feeling as a coach no matter what the results are in any competition!”

Coach Kayra is an essential part of the Topeka Elite Cheer leadership team, helping ensure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly while also making a positive impact on athletes both on and off the mat. As our Operations Manager, she oversees many of the day-to-day details that keep TEC organized, welcoming, and running efficiently for athletes, families, and staff.

In addition to managing operations, Kayra coaches recreational classes and All-Star athletes, bringing a calm, encouraging coaching style that helps athletes build confidence and master strong fundamentals. She believes that every athlete deserves to feel supported, challenged, and celebrated throughout their journey.

Kayra is known for her reliability, organization, and willingness to help wherever she’s needed. Whether she’s assisting families at the front desk, coordinating gym operations, or coaching athletes in the gym, she is committed to creating an exceptional experience for every family that walks through the doors.

Coach Lacy leads the tumbling program at Topeka Elite Cheer, helping athletes of all ages develop safe technique, strong fundamentals, and confidence in their abilities. As our Tumbling Director, she oversees tumbling instruction across recreational classes, private lessons, clinics, and All-Star training, creating clear pathways for athletes to progress from beginner skills to advanced tumbling.

Lacy is passionate about teaching proper technique and believes that a strong foundation is the key to long-term success. She is known for her patient coaching style, attention to detail, and ability to break skills down into manageable steps that help athletes build confidence while reaching their goals.

Whether she’s spotting an athlete through a new skill, celebrating a breakthrough moment, or encouraging someone to keep pushing through challenges, Coach Lacy is committed to helping every athlete become stronger, more confident, and more resilient both inside and outside the gym.

Coach Ali is a dedicated leader at Topeka Elite Cheer who is passionate about creating an environment where every athlete feels encouraged, challenged, and excited to come to the gym. As our Director of Team Engagement, she focuses on fostering positive team culture, building meaningful relationships with athletes and families, and helping every athlete feel like an important part of the TEC family.

Ali coaches both recreational classes and All-Star teams, specializing in developing strong fundamentals while making practices fun, engaging, and full of energy. She believes that confidence is built through consistency, encouragement, and celebrating every victory along the way, whether it’s an athlete’s first cartwheel or their newest elite skill.

Known for her positive attitude, patience, and genuine care for each athlete, Coach Ali strives to make every child feel seen, valued, and capable of achieving more than they thought possible. Her favorite moments are watching athletes gain confidence, form lasting friendships, and discover a love for cheer that extends far beyond the mat.

Coach Ashley is passionate about helping athletes grow in confidence while creating a positive, supportive environment where everyone feels encouraged to do their best. She believes that every athlete deserves to feel challenged, celebrated, and valued, regardless of where they are in their cheer journey.

Working with both recreational classes and All-Star athletes, Ashley focuses on building strong fundamentals, promoting teamwork, and helping athletes understand that growth comes through consistency, effort, and a positive attitude. She loves finding ways to make practices engaging while helping athletes develop the skills they need to succeed.

Known for her encouraging coaching style and genuine care for each athlete, Coach Ashley strives to build meaningful relationships with the athletes she coaches and create an environment where they feel confident trying new things and reaching for bigger goals.

Coach Braxton brings energy, enthusiasm, and a passion for helping athletes push beyond what they think is possible. As an All-Star and recreational coach, he enjoys creating practices that are both challenging and encouraging, helping athletes build confidence while developing strong technique and teamwork.

Braxton has a natural ability to motivate athletes and create an environment where hard work and accountability go hand in hand with having fun. He believes that success is earned through consistency, determination, and a willingness to embrace challenges, and he encourages every athlete to give their best effort every time they step onto the floor.

Known for his positive attitude and supportive coaching style, Coach Braxton loves watching athletes grow not only in their skills but also in their confidence and leadership. Whether he’s coaching stunts, tumbling, or preparing teams for competition, his goal is to help every athlete leave practice better than when they arrived.

Katelyn began gymnastics at just 3 years old before transitioning into competitive cheerleading, where she spent 7 years competing and growing her love for the sport.

Her passion for cheerleading eventually developed into a passion for coaching. Katelyn has several years of coaching experience working with athletes of all different levels, along with experience coaching tumbling.

One of Katelyn’s favorite parts of coaching is helping athletes build confidence, accomplish new goals, and realize they are capable of more than they think. She strives to create a positive environment where athletes can work hard, have fun, and continue to grow both as athletes and as individuals.

Katelyn is excited to bring her experience and love for the sport to TEC and can’t wait to get to know all of our athletes and families!

“One of my favorite parts of coaching is helping athletes build confidence, reach new goals, and realize they’re capable of more than they think.”

Coach Ellie has a special gift for working with our youngest athletes and is a true rockstar with the tiniest members of the TEC family. Her patient, energetic, and nurturing personality helps young athletes feel comfortable, confident, and excited to learn from the moment they walk into the gym.

Whether she’s introducing a toddler to their very first class or helping a young athlete master a new skill, Ellie focuses on creating a positive experience where learning is fun and every accomplishment is celebrated. She believes that building confidence, friendships, and a love for movement at a young age creates the foundation for success both inside and outside the gym.

Known for her warm smile, endless encouragement, and ability to connect with children, Coach Ellie creates an environment where athletes feel safe to try new things, make mistakes, and grow. She understands that every child develops at their own pace and is passionate about helping each athlete discover what they’re capable of achieving.