Elevate Your Cheer Skills Today
Join our all star cheerleading gym in Fort Valley, GA!
Welcome to LeGAcy Cheer and Tumbling
Our Mission
At LeGAcy Cheer and Tumbling, we are dedicated to fostering a love for cheerleading and tumbling. Our mission is to empower athletes of all levels to achieve their personal best in a positive and supportive environment. We believe every flip, skill, and cheer matters and we cannot wait to grow, laugh, and celebrate together!
Dustin McDowell - Owner and Head Coach
With nearly two decades of hands-on coaching experience, Dustin McDowell is the driving force behind LeGAcy Cheer and Tumbling. His cheer journey began at Perry High School, where his raw passion and natural talent quickly earned him a spot on the competition floor. After three seasons of high school cheer and two years in the all-star arena, Dustin transitioned from athlete to mentor. Starting at just 16 years old he began assisting his own tumbling coach, eventually becoming "Coach Dusty"
From that moment on, he was hooked not just on the sport, but on the confidence he could spark in young athletes. Dustin went on to coach throughout the state of Georgia, building a reputation for high-energy classes, technical excellence, and unwavering encouragement.
After stepping back to focus on building his family, Dustin returned to the sport with an even deeper sense of purpose. As a father of four (three of whom now share his passion for cheer) he understands the power of cheer to inspire confidence, discipline, and resilience.
LeGAcy isn’t just a name; it’s a mission. For Coach Dusty, it represents the generations of athletes he’s trained, the family values he’s built it on, and the fiery spirit he’s passing on to every tumbler who walks through the doors.
Sarah McDowell - Chief Financial Officer
She’s never worn a cheer bow, never hit a stunt, and couldn’t tumble if you spotted her yourself, but Sarah McDowell is the heartbeat of the business side of LeGAcy Cheer and Tumbling. As CFO, Sarah keeps the gym running smoothly, the bills paid, and the dream alive.
By day, she’s a Nurse Practitioner. By night (and most weekends), she’s a fierce cheer mom (cheer dad really, let's be honest), paperwork powerhouse, and sideline warrior who can yell “HIT!” with the best of them. Though she didn’t grow up in the world of cheer, she’s learned to love the sparkle, sweat, and sheer grit it takes to succeed in this sport.
Sarah knows a thing or two about determination and resilience, traits she lives daily in both medicine and motherhood. As a proud wife, mom of four, and first-generation college graduate, she brings a spirit of excellence and tenacity to everything she touches.
Her role at LeGAcy is more than balancing the books. It’s about investing in a vision where every athlete feels seen, supported, and empowered to rise, just like the Phoenix that symbolizes the gym’s spirit.
She may not cheer on the mat, but she’ll always be cheering for YOU.
Peggy Griffeth- All-Star Director and Head Cheer Coach
If there’s anyone who lives and breathes all-star cheer, it’s Peggy Griffeth. With over 25 years of experience in the sport, from competitor to coach and now All-Star Director at LeGAcy Cheer and Tumbling, Peggy brings passion, precision, and purpose to every practice and performance.
She’s also the Georgia Director for World’s Perfect Athlete, where she mentors athletes on and off the mat. But what makes this season even more special? She now gets to coach side by side with her husband of 9 years, blending family and cheer in the most meaningful way.
Outside the gym, Peggy serves her local community as a certified EMT with over a decade of experience, and holds specialized training in CPR, Pediatric Care, Trauma Response, and Special Needs Safety. Her commitment to athlete safety isn’t just professional, it’s personal. Every child she coaches is treated with care, consistency, and protection.
Peggy has poured her heart into helping build LeGAcy from the ground up, alongside close friends who have become chosen family. Her belief in this gym’s mission is unwavering, and her excitement is contagious!
"It's season 1 and we're just getting started. We're laying out our LeGAcy. This is going to be life-changing for everyone involved and I couldn't be more excited!"
Jake Griffeth- Assistant Cheer Coach and Community Outreach Officer
From the sidelines of football fields to the center of the cheer mat, Jake Griffeth brings heart, hustle, and a powerful sense of purpose to LeGAcy Cheer and Tumbling. Now in his second season as an all-star coach, Jake’s journey into cheer began nearly a decade ago, not as an athlete, but as a supportive partner, traveling and learning alongside his wife Peggy, a 25-year veteran of the sport and LeGAcy’s All-Star Director.
With a personal athletic background in football and wrestling, Jake knows what it takes to work as a team, push through adversity, and give every ounce of effort to reach a goal. These values are the foundation of his coaching style. ATHLETES: expect sweat, support, and a whole lot of growth.
Jake also brings over 15 years of experience as an EMT in the Middle Georgia area, with a specialization in sporting events and emergency response, making athlete safety a top priority every time he steps into the gym. His ability to blend physical training with emotional encouragement helps athletes uncover their true potential.
His mission?
To help each athlete discover their “why,” ignite their passion, and build a LeGAcy they can be proud of one rep, one routine, one breakthrough at a time.
“It starts with a spark… that ignites a flame… that scorches your foundation… and starts a LeGAcy.”
Jake will be there to motivate, encourage, and push you to become your best, because at LeGAcy, no one builds alone.