Dallas, TX — For Maddy Brum, tryouts with the Dallas Drive were not about proving her place in cheerleading, her résumé already speaks volumes. They were about proving that professional cheer has finally arrived, and she’s ready to help lead it forward.

“I think I’m prepared to be in the Pro League because I’ve put years into this sport,” Brum said during her sit-down. “I’ve done collegiate cheerleading, All Star cheerleading, high school cheerleading, rec cheerleading. I’ve seen all sides of it, so it makes me excited to push it to the next level.”

Her story began at age two. From early rec cheer to the competitive all-star stage, she has seen the sport evolve and felt its impact personally. “Cheerleading is my second home. Seeing familiar faces again warmed my heart and reminded me this is a family.”

The leap to a professional league is something Brum admits once felt unthinkable. “Being paid to do what you love is mind-blowing. Cheerleading has always been dismissed as ‘not a sport,’ and that’s hurtful to athletes. Now, with the Pro League, it shows the world we are athletes.”

Brum’s drive extends beyond the mat. She sees pro cheerleading as the perfect way to bridge passion and profession.

What struck her most at tryouts was the camaraderie. “Watching everyone cheer each other on was such a testament to what the sport really is,” she said. “It’s about community as much as competition.”

Now, under the leadership of team managers Jody Melton, Brad Habermel, and Angela Rogers, Dallas Drive is beginning to shape its identity, and Brum is determined to be part of that first wave. “This is history,” she said. “I want to make an impact on cheerleading and inspire the next generation.”

For Maddy Brum, Dallas Drive is not just a team, it’s a platform to prove that the future of cheer is professional, powerful, and full of possibility.