MEET OUR STAFF
Paige Gales - Owner / Coach
About Me: As far back as I can remember, cheerleading has always been a part of my life. My story actually begins when I attempted to play other sports. I sit here laughing as I write this because I don't think there has been a soccer or softball coach that I had during childhood that hasn't told me “maybe you should consider being a cheerleader, Paige.” I was always cheering in my living room, and watching the cheer competitions on TV. Growing up in a small town the opportunities for cheer were limited; with that said, it did not diminish the experience for me. My first cheer memories began when I was 12 with CYO Cheerleading for St. Anthony’s and St. Ambrose Church here in Binghamton NY. I had a late start with cheer, and I was not as skilled as the other athletes on my teams. I knew if I ever wanted to cheer in High School I was going to have to really work hard and build the skills necessary to train alongside the other athletes. Unfortunately, I had disappointments, but I used these setbacks as motivation to harness my work ethic. I knew that time, work, and lots of practice is what I needed. I sought help from my former CYO teammates that were now JV U-E cheerleaders and friends who were experienced athletes and trained for two years. As a result of my work ethic and the leadership skills of others, I eventually made U-E Varsity and the rest is history. Since High School, I have coached CYO Cheer and I have assisted with Youth Cheer Programs through the years. I always said that my daughter Mia and her love of cheer are my inspirations behind Top Flight All Stars, when in actuality it is my story and journey that is. I know what it takes to be a competitive athlete because I eventually became one. I know what it takes to be a leader because cheer was a stepping stone for me to become one. I know what it takes to build a successful program and that is a coach who is skilled enough to take us there. I hired one. I am so proud of our athletes, their growth, and what they have accomplished. I can confidently say that the program Sami Wyatt and I have built and the cheer family that we have is a strong one. I am excited about what the future holds for TFA. It started out with one dream, it became one team, and this season we became one family.
Sami Wyatt - Head Coach/ Manager
About Me: Cheerleading has been apart of my life since I can remember! From starting my cheerleading journey in Tulsa, Oklahoma, then taking it to Nashville, Tennessee, Dallas, Texas, and lastly upstate NY! I have cheered at all levels including youth, All-Star, highschool, and collegiate! I worked for NCA (National Cheerleaders Association) for 5 years and taught camps all over the North East. I have also worked at the Cheerleading Worlds and Summit in Orlando, Florida. I was featured on the front cover of the NCA 2017 Spiritboook, other NCA marketing materials, and in the American Cheerleader magazine! I love being able to share my knowledge and experiences with these athletes! There is enormous talent in this area. Paige and I can't wait to show the North East the talent these athletes have!
Years of Competitive Cheerleading: 15
Years of Coaching: 12
Shannon Klimpel - Assistant Coach
About Me:
Hailing from Sayre, PA, Shannon brings a wealth of knowledge with over 18 years in the cheerleading industry.
*Shannon's Cheerleading Journey*
“Cheerleading has been part of my life for the last 18 years. I didn’t start cheering when I was younger because I had no idea what it would bring me- but I’m so glad it has brought me the memories that it has now! Competitive cheerleading has created so many core memories and brought me so many amazing people. Personally, I have coached some amazing champions who have held multiple national titles, competed at the cheerleading worlds 2x- placing 3rd in the USA, 6th and 10th in the world.
My biggest coaching accomplishments are my team winning The One Championship in Orlando, FL and receiving a full paid bid to the All Star World Championship in Orlando, FL.
My favorite part of cheerleading is watching athletes grow and succeeding while working hard and making memories. Coaching to me is much more than those 2 and a half minutes at competitions. It’s the weekend practices and late nights of “just one more time” because I know what those athletes are capable of.”
But it's not just the accolades that make Shannon stand out. Her philosophy is all about, growth, hard work, and perseverance. She believes coaching transcends the competition floor—and unlocking the true potential of our athletes.
