Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Dotson.
Hi Stephen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For Katie and Stephen Dotson, HC Elite wasn’t born from a lifelong plan to own a gym—it was born from a season of uncertainty, faith, and a desire to serve the community they loved.
For nearly 15 years, both worked in the telecommunications industry for a family-owned business. As the industry began to decline, their professional lives changed dramatically. Katie was laid off first. Six months later, Stephen lost his position as well. For many families, that kind of uncertainty would have been overwhelming. For the Dotsons, it became the beginning of a new chapter.
The seed for HC Elite had been planted a year earlier when their daughter decided she wanted to try competitive cheerleading at age nine. Although Katie had been a cheerleader and coach throughout high school and college, she had never pushed her daughter toward the sport. But once Blakely joined a local recreational competitive team, Katie volunteered to coach and quickly rediscovered a passion she had set aside while building a career and raising a family. That experience also revealed a gap in the local market.
While Dripping Springs offered opportunities for athletes to participate in cheer, there wasn’t a dedicated all-star cheer gym focused exclusively on cheer-specific training. Most programs were gymnastics facilities with a small cheer component. Athletes seeking advanced training often had to leave their own community and travel significant distances to pursue their goals. Katie had considered opening a gym earlier in her life, but the timing had never felt right. Now, with a career transition, a renewed passion for coaching, and what seemed like one open door after another, she couldn’t turn down what seemed like a divine nudge. The relationships Katie cultivated through years of church volunteering, PTA involvement, and youth group leadership created a groundswell of encouragement and support that would prove instrumental as the vision for HC Elite began to take shape.
What happened next exceeded every expectation. In HC Elite’s very first all-star season, 140 athletes joined the program. Many were brand new to all-star cheer. Others made the leap from recreational programs for the opportunity to experience a more competitive environment. Some transferred from smaller all-star programs because they were excited about HC Elite’s commitment to competing alongside Division I-caliber programs and pursuing a higher standard of excellence.
The gym’s first home was an unlikely one—an old warehouse facility hidden inside an aging business park. Katie saw what most couldn’t in the space and transformed the warehouse into a training center where athletes could learn, grow, and chase ambitious goals. Just as importantly, they created a place where parents and siblings could gather, build friendships, and become part of the journey.
The growth came quickly. With eight teams practicing twice a week and tumbling classes filling faster than anticipated, the facility soon felt crowded.
But space wasn’t the biggest challenge. The real challenge was education. Many athletes and parents were entering the all-star world for the first time. HC Elite found itself teaching not only skills and routines, but also helping families understand competitive scoring, the commitment required to succeed, and the realities of a sport built on continual improvement.
At the same time, the Dotsons were determined not to lose sight of what mattered most. They wanted excellence. They wanted discipline. They wanted athletes to work hard and pursue ambitious goals. But, they also wanted kids to enjoy being kids. Finding coaches who shared that vision—and could balance competitive rigor with positive athlete development—became one of the most important priorities of the program’s early years.
As HC Elite continued to grow, another realization emerged: the impact could extend far beyond cheer. The mission broadened to include HC Elite Athletics, creating a place where local youth could develop confidence, strength, coordination, and a love for physical activity through fun and engaging athletic programs.
The introduction of HC Elite Athletics became a turning point for the organization. HC Elite Athletics allowed families to involve both boys and girls into the program by introducing the Ninja and Parkour program for a one of kind strength and agility training that was high energy and fun. Just as important, they were able to enhance their tumbling program to include skill specific progressions and focused leveled tumbling.
“That’s when we knew we had something that could truly grow,” they reflect.
Today, HC Elite Athletics and Cheer is built on a belief that success is about more than banners, trophies, or rankings. In an era where youth sports can often become transactional and individual-focused, the Dotsons have intentionally built a culture centered on community, character, family and FUN.
The journey hasn’t always been easy. Building a culture, finding the right coaches, and attracting families who value long-term development over short-term wins continues to be the work. But those families are also what keeps them going. The athletes who stay because they feel supported. The parents who choose culture over chasing the latest champion. The families who become friends and help build something bigger than themselves. Those moments remind the Dotsons that HC Elite has become exactly what they hoped it would be—a place where athletes can pursue excellence, families can find community, and young people can grow into confident, resilient leaders.
In the end, HC Elite was never just about cheer. It was about creating a home.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
“Smooth” is a relative term. Like every small business, we’ve faced our share of challenges. But we’ve learned that smooth isn’t defined by the absence of obstacles—it’s defined by how you respond to them. For us, that means keeping first things first and remaining faithful to the mission and ministry we’ve been entrusted with. When we stay focused on serving our athletes and families well, the challenges become opportunities to grow rather than reasons to lose heart. Without question, the most difficult part of every year is the start of a new season. Every May, each family has a decision to make: Will they continue in the sport? And if they do, will they continue with HC Elite?
We’d be lying if we said those decisions don’t affect us personally. When a family chooses another program, it isn’t about “losing” to another gym. It’s difficult because of the emotional investment we’ve made in that athlete. We know their strengths, their struggles, their goals, and we’ve committed ourselves to helping them grow—not only as athletes, but as young people.
Our goal has never been simply to create championship teams. Our goal is to build a program where athletes want to stay because they feel challenged, encouraged, and genuinely cared for. We want them to develop physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. We want them to leave each season with a greater sense of confidence and accomplishment, regardless of what trophies they take home.
In many ways, our definition of a “smooth” season would be retaining every athlete year after year. Is that realistic in today’s competitive youth sports environment? Probably not. But it is the standard we strive toward because every athlete who chooses to stay is another indication that we’re building the culture we’ve envisioned from the very beginning.
At the end of the day, we don’t just want athletes to join HC Elite—we want them to find a home here.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Katie serves as the Director and Head Coach of the HC Elite Cheer program, bringing a unique combination of leadership, experience, and genuine care for every athlete who walks through the doors. A gifted communicator, she has built strong relationships with both athletes and parents by fostering an environment of trust, transparency, and mutual respect. As a mother herself, Katie naturally connects with young athletes. She understands that every child is different and believes effective coaching requires meeting athletes where they are. While she maintains high standards and isn’t afraid to be firm when necessary, her approach is rooted in understanding, encouragement, and individualized development. She recognizes that each athlete responds differently to feedback and takes pride in coaching each one in a way that helps them build confidence while reaching their full potential. Parents appreciate Katie’s approachable nature and willingness to listen. She values open communication, welcomes conversations about an athlete’s development, and serves as a true advocate for the children in her program. Above all, families trust that every decision she makes is guided by one simple principle: doing what is best for the athlete. That combination of accountability, compassion, and authenticity has become a defining part of the HC Elite culture.
Stephen leads the HC Elite Athletics program, which focuses on tumbling, ninja, and parkour. While his official title may be CEO, around the gym he’s known as the “Chief Encouragement Officer”—a role he embraces wholeheartedly. His mission is simple: create an environment where kids work hard, have fun, build confidence, and leave every class with a smile on their face. For Stephen, the most fulfilling part of the job isn’t mastering a new skill—it’s watching athletes discover what they’re capable of. He loves seeing kids step outside their comfort zones, persevere through challenges, and develop the confidence that comes from accomplishing something they once thought was impossible. At the end of the day, his favorite sight is a gym full of athletes leaving class red-faced, sweaty, and grinning from ear to ear. To him, those smiles are evidence of something much bigger than physical achievement—they’re a sign that kids are growing stronger, more confident, and learning to enjoy the rewards that come from hard work and perseverance.
How do you define success?
Winning Championships. Period. HOWEVER, but what’s MORE important is the how… retention…but not simply because of the numbers.
Championship teams are built with athletes and families choose to come back year after year because they believe in our mission, trust our coaches, and see growth that extends far beyond athletic ability. It’s about retaining athletes who genuinely want to be part of a culture that challenges them to become better teammates, stronger individuals, and positive influences on those around them.
When enough of those athletes commit to that shared vision over time, championships become the byproduct—not the objective. Winning is rewarding, but it is the result of a strong culture, consistent hard work, and athletes who choose one another over chasing the next opportunity.
The greatest compliment we receive is when parents tell us they’re seeing changes at home that we don’t get to witness in the gym. Greater confidence. More self-discipline. Increased resilience. Better leadership. A stronger work ethic.
Those are the victories that matter most to us.
If families continue choosing HC Elite because of the people their children are becoming—not just the athletes they’re becoming—then we know we’re succeeding, regardless of the number of championships.
Pricing:
- Basic Tumbling $85 per month for 1 class per week
- Academy Levels 1-3+ $95 per month for 1 class per week
- Basic & Intermediate Ninja/Parkour $85 per month for 1 class per week
- Academy Ninja $95 per month for 1 class per week
- Birthday Parties/Special Events starting at $350 for 2 hours of gym rental
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hceliteathletics.com & www.hcelitecheer.com
- Instagram: @hceliteathletics @hcelitecheer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565787281748 & https://www.facebook.com/HCEliteCheerTX
