Tucked inside a quiet warehouse park off Darden Hill Road sit two identical buildings—home to Hill Country Elite Cheer, a rapidly growing all-star cheerleading program right here in Dripping Springs. Most afternoons, athletes stream in and out, their energy spilling into the parking lot as upbeat music echoes from inside. For owner, coach, and local resident Katie Dotson, it’s a dream come true—and she’s just getting started.
Growing up in the Dallas suburbs, Dotson cheered throughout middle and high school. But it wasn’t until she was introduced to all-star cheer that her passion for the sport truly took off. From that moment on, she knew cheer would always be part of her life. Starting her own gym, however, felt more like a distant dream than a realistic goal.
A mom of three, Dotson credits her daughter as the catalyst behind HC Elite Cheer. “What’s ironic is my daughter is a competitive dancer, but she wanted to try one season of cheer, and that’s really how it all began,” she explains.
While coaching her daughter’s pre-competition team for DSYSA, Dotson noticed a pattern: Talented athletes graduating from the recreational program were leaving the area to join all-star gyms 45 minutes to an hour away. That sparked a simple but powerful question: Why aren’t we keeping these athletes local?
Dotson’s experience at Baylor University helped shape her answer. While there, she coached at a small all-star program that was just getting off the ground. She worked with multiple teams, helped the gym transition into a new facility, and witnessed firsthand the challenges of building something from scratch. Those early lessons made one thing clear: The beginning stages of any business are far from glamorous. But Dotson also knew this community needed a program like this, and she wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way.
Today, HC Elite Cheer is more than just a gym; it’s a family. “Of course we want to build a successful program,” Dotson says, “but our bigger goal is to maintain an athlete-first mentality.” To this end, she strives to create a safe space where athletes can grow, adapt, succeed, and even fail while also having a place where they can come hang out and work on skills.
“My heart belongs to these girls—to help them feel seen, known, and understood,” Dotson shares. “The pre-teen and teen years can be tough, so nothing brings me more joy than seeing them here, just being kids together.”
In the all-star cheer universe, success is often defined by trophies, championship rings and jackets, and bids to Worlds competitions. For individual athletes, it might mean mastering a new skill, making a higher-level team, or winning a key competition. While Dotson believes those achievements are important, her definition of success runs deeper.
“When I was cheering, there weren’t many opportunities to continue after high school unless you were a small flyer. Now, there are so many paths—college cheer, STUNT programs, Worlds teams, and more,” Dotson says. “I want our athletes to see their potential, understand the work it takes to achieve their goals, and learn how to overcome adversity along the way. That’s success to me.”
She also credits the gym’s growth to the families who have embraced HC Elite Cheer: “Our parents are incredible—supportive, encouraging, and truly invested in what we’re building. They trust us to mentor and develop their kids, and that means everything.”
Now entering its third season, HC Elite Cheer is thriving. Tryouts for the upcoming season will take place in early May, with opportunities for athletes of all levels, including showcase, half-season, novice, prep, and elite teams. The gym also offers classes in tumbling, cheer prep, jumps, stunting, and even summer clinics, ensuring there’s a place for every athlete to grow.
HCEliteCheer.com | @hcelitecheer