Just a few weeks after Scorpions Elite Cheer ceased to exist, Phoenix Cheer Athletics has risen from the ashes to take their place.

Natalie Batkis says her kids were in Scorpions Elite Cheer and the news that they were closing their doors for good caught the parents and coaches off guard.

"Obviously, we were very upset because we had such a great run with Scorpions but our owners were ready to move on and do some different things with their lives so we are very happy to support them in that choice. What we decided as parents and coaches was to get together a few days after we found out Scorpions was closing and before we knew it, we kind of started a new team."

Batkis is the new Co-Chair of Phoenix Cheer Athletics and says the new name, of course, is a reference to the mythical creature the Phoenix which rises from the ashes. She says they were able to quickly find an investor to purchase the Scorpions old equipment, they formed a steering committee, hired a program director and have now found a new space.

"We are actually not going to be located in Steinbach anymore. We found a location that really suited our needs in Ste. Anne. We have a lot of athletes from Niverville, Landmark, Mitchell, Grunthal, Steinbach, Winnipeg and even Kenora. For us, Ste. Anne is actually a fairly central location and the Town of Ste. Anne has been completely supportive of us coming to their community."

For the first year, Batkis says they will run with only mini, youth, and junior teams for ages 5 to 14. They will also have recreational sessions that run from October to January. She notes their hope is to then grow the program in the next few years and bring back the senior team for ages 15 to 18.

Batkis says putting together Phoenix Cheer Athletics has been a lot of work, but when the kids hit the floor for the first time it will also be a special moment because of all the work they have put in. She notes they are excited to kick off their inaugural season.

Read more: Many Mourn The Loss Of Cheer