No one should ever be denied the chance to do something they love. Unfortunately, that’s the situation that Teda Barrows and her Suffolk Cheer Attitude (SCA) cheerleading squad faced far too many times last year.

Last January, roughly 200 youngsters signed up for the squad. By the time the season got rolling, there was only room for 60. A lack of practice space forced Burroughs to cut down her team.

&uot;Parks and Recreation has been wonderful to us,&uot; she said, &uot;but we didn’t have enough time or space. We had five teams practicing two nights a week.&uot;

At King’s Fork and Birdsong recreation center, the cheerers were often forced to share time and space with recreational league basketball teams and other programs. Still, they managed to send four teams to national competition at Disney World last March, and the Pee-Wee team brought Suffolk a title.

But Barrows wasn’t satisfied. On June 16, she received a conditional-use permit to begin construction on a new gym at 1258-B Progress Road. Now, after bad weather and concrete shortages held things up for a while, it’s finally open for fun.

It’s a 5,000 square-foot, 25-foot high shrine to cheerleading, with the squad’s trophies lining the walls, a huge, fully matted room to practice, and a large trampoline to strengthen up the legs. Upstairs, there’s a dance studio, which will go into use when enough participants show up – hopefully, some of the ones that were turned away before. On Saturdays, gymnastics lessons are given.

A member of the national titlists, Heather Gilbert can’t wait to go bouncing.

&uot;It’s exciting!&uot; she says of the trampoline. &uot;This is more like being at the competition, because we have the big mat and we’re used to being on the competitive mat.

&uot;King’s Fork was good,&uot; she continues, &uot;but I feel happy because we have our own space to practice.&uot;

As the lessons get started, Teda’s daughter Anna takes a group of younger cheerers through the basics.

&uot;We always know what we’re going to have here,&uot; said Anna, herself a member of the Senior team. &uot;We don’t have to worry about the school’s programs. Here, we can have three teams practicing on one mat.

&uot;This is just the beginning,&uot; she said. &uot;We’re going to keep growing and growing.&uot;

Baxley was one of three SCA cheerleaders to make it to the All-American cheerleading ranks last season.

Now in action, Anna and her teammates hurl flyer Kelly Heath into the air. Heath goes nearly high enough to reach the ceiling, kicks out her legs, and flutters back down into their waiting arms.

&uot;It’s a lot better to have our own space on the mat,&uot; she says. &uot;You can stay as late as you want, so you can perfect your routine.&uot;

The center will be holding an open house from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jan. 22. A six-month schedule of 16 classes can be purchased for $40 a month at the event, which is $10 less than the normal price. It’s open Monday through Friday, and can be reached at 538-2300.

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com