History of HPC
HPC originates from the Helotes Panthers Youth Sports Association. HPYSA was established in 2009 as a youth football and cheer organization in Helotes, TX. The organization was active from 2009-2018. In 2014, the cheer program began competing in cheer competitions locally and eventually would travel as far as North Texas for Cheer Star Nationals. As the team competed through the competition circuit, the HPYSA cheer program became known as Helotes Panthers Cheer.
In the beginning, HPYSA's was a member of TYFA in their inaugural year but moved to Mid-Tex their second year. The cheer program was under the direction of Cari Muir in the Fall of 2009 and Fall of 2010. In 2010, Coach Pauline began volunteering as a cheer coach HPYSA. The program offered cheerleading to ages 5 through 14 and with Director and Coach, Cari Muir and her assistant coaches, Coach Brittney and Coach Pauline, the program was off to a good start!
In the Spring of 2011, Amy Gonzales took over as Cheer Director and continued the cheer program with Coach Brittney and Coach Pauline. Amy Gonzales stayed on as the Director during the 2012 season but designated Coach Pauline as Head Cheer Coach who would also become the acting Cheer Director when Amy had to make the tough decision to step away due to her son's involvement in hockey. In 2012 the program had grown and the cheer teams were led by Coach Mindy and Coach Jennifer, Coach Stephanie, and Coach Pauline. By 2013, Coach Pauline officially became the Cheer Director, with Coach Stephanie back, the program welcomed Coach Becky, Coach Mari, and student Coach Kali. Up to this point, the cheerleaders were not only cheering on the sidelines of the football games, but they were also making appearances and performing at professional sporting events, like the San Antonio Rampage and San Antonio Stars. In 2013, the football team even won their division at the league championship which is where the cheer team performed their first competition-style performance at the league championship game.
In 2014, the HPYSA left Mid-Tex and joined a new league, Texas Select. With Texas Select, the cheer program was allowed to register for cheer competitions and made its first appearance in a competition at the Cheer Star Spirit of Giving held at St. Mary's University. In 2015 HPC became the Alamo National Champions in the game rec division and brought home their first trophy.
Over many years HPC participated in the Helotes Cornyval Parade, attended many O'Connor High School pep rallies, and even performed at the annual senior pep rallies over the years. As children grew older and new children would join HPC, we also were blessed with some amazing parents who stepped up to be volunteer coaches and we even had a number of students from OC who would volunteer coach which made attending the pep rallies and cheer clinics a lot of fun for the cheerleaders.
By Fall of 2017 the HPYSA football team was no longer an active program due to a decline in our registration, but the cheer program survived another year and remained a member of Texas Select. In our final year, we boosted our competition team as we no longer had sideline cheer without football. HPC decided to create two competition teams, Team Navy and Team Gold! Team Navy was coached by Coach Liz and Coach April who was able to take our littlest HPC cheerleaders to Spirit of Giving and Alamo Nationals where they finished 2nd at both. Team Gold was coached by Coach Pauline, Coach Becky, and Coach Athena. After also finishing 2nd place at Spirit of Giving and Alamo Nationals, Team Gold was determined to end the season on a high note, and in the Spring of 2018, Team Gold took 1st place at Spring Fling Cash Bash and also 1st place at Cheer Star Nationals in Denton, TX.
In the Spring of 2018, after great performances at the end of the season, Coach Pauline had to make the tough decision to pause our program. As her daughter was about to start high school, Coach Pauline knew that her time would be occupied by her daughter's new activities and would not be able to devote all her attention to the program. However, Coach Pauline also knew that she would never completely let go of her love and passion for cheer and decided to create HPC Private Coaching.
Now, after 6 years of being on pause, Coach Pauline is relaunching Helotes Panthers Cheer for the Fall 2024 season as a recreational competition team for youth ages 6-14. Registration will open in Spring 2024.
HPYSA Cheer ProgramAchievements
2015 Alamo National Champions
2015 Spirit of Giving 1st Place Junior Novice
2015 Spirit of Giving Overall Novice Level Winner
2016 Alamo Nationals 2nd Place Junior Novice
2016 Spirit of Giving 1st Place Junior Novice
2017 Alamo Nationals 1st Place Junior Novice National Champions
2017 Alamo Nationals Overall Novice Level Winner
2017 Cheer Star Nationals 1st Place Junior Novice National Champions
2017 Cheer Star Nationals Game Rec Overall Winner
2017 Cheer Star I-Award Winner
2017 Spirit of Giving 2nd Place Mini Novice
2017 Spirit of Giving 2nd Place Junior Novice
2018 Alamo Nationals 2nd Place Mini Novice
2018 Alamo Nationals 2nd Place Junior Novice
2018 Spring Fling Cash Bash 1st Place Junior Novice
2018 Spring Fling Cash Bash Best Jumps
2018 Cheer Star Nationals 1st Place Junior Novice National Champions