On March 27, Aleks Slavich, senior in biomedical sciences, experienced a victory larger than he could ever imagine. Slavich competed on Dallas Drive, a professional cheerleading team, and helped bring home the win with his fellow teammates at the inaugural Professional Cheerleading Championship in Nashville, Tennessee. The team's triumph over Miami Metal brought the league their first championship title, but Slavich found himself on the championship-winning team by chance.
Slavich did not come to Auburn with the intention of being a professional tumbler. He grew up in tumbling lessons, but he did not continue in college. Slavich's experience with Dallas Drive gave him the ability to display his dedication to tumbling in a unique, yet very rewarding way.
“It was really fun. It was really an honor. And completely a God thing. I didn’t foresee that happening at all. It just kind of happened,” Slavich said.
For Slavich, tumbling is a way to exercise while having fun. At Limitbreakers, a local tumbling gym in Opelika, Slavich would train from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday nights. After a member of Dallas Drive was injured, many people noticed Slavich's extreme commitment to tumbling. After a member of Dallas Drive was injured, many people contacted Slavich through social media encouraging him to apply.
Eventually, Dallas Drive's coaches reached out to Slavich with a formal invitation. While Slavich had never expected to compete with a professional cheerleading team, an open spot on Dallas Drive ultimately led him to helping the team achieve a winning title at the inaugural Professional Cheerleading Championship.
“Both of the captains reached out, who I knew very well. It was a more serious inquiry," Slavich said. "So, I was like, I liked it. Okay, it’d be fun."
Slavich accepted a place on Dallas Drive’s team and trained over spring break. The cheerleader acknowledged his parents' support, explaining how they encouraged his decision to train and compete with Dallas Drive.
“We kept saying 'yes.' I think it was the yeses and us being able to provide," said Sheila Slavich, Aleks' mother. "The opportunity was presented because of Aleks’ hard work and dedication, in conjunction with our willingness to say yes and support it."
As a child, Slavich began tumbling just for fun. However, his interest increased with time, and he wanted to practice in a gym. Due to a lack of availability of gyms for male tumblers, Slavich’s parents drove him to gyms several hours away, so that Slavich could continue developing his skill and talent.
“Three nights a week. We wouldn’t get home until, like, 12:30 at night. We practiced for four hours,” Slavich said.
Slavich said that he would not have been able to achieve such massive success as a tumbler without the support of his parents, coaches or his faith. Gary Gray, Slavich's coach at Limitbreakers was a key part of Slavich's success.
“Aleks and I have a very collaborative relationship. We’re always working on something to push ourselves and those around us," said Gary Gray, co-owner of Limitbreakers. "Two mottos that could sum up Aleks’ and my working relationship are ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’ and ‘God First.'"
Gray supported Slavich in his training and choice to work with the Dallas Drive team. Gray’s dedication to Slavich, and tumbling as a whole, led Slavich to Nashville where he helped bring home the winning title for Dallas Drive.
While Slavich does not plan to continue tumbling, he said he is overjoyed about the win and his chance to work with Dallas Drive.
“I knew that this was it. It was kind of bittersweet, but I’m glad it ended this way. Like, the cheerleading career. Honestly, it couldn’t have ended in a better way,” Slavich said.
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Lorelei Young, sophomore majoring in English language arts education, is from Columbiana, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the fall of 2025.
