(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — July 17, 2025) — With high-flying stunts and unstoppable determination, Navon Wheaton is tumbling straight into his next big chapter as a staff member of the National Cheer Association’s Southwest Region. The recent Chapin High School graduate will travel across the southwest region this summer working with high school cheer teams, teaching skills, leading camps, and representing El Paso ISD on a national stage.
Navon’s cheerleading journey began in the second grade, when he would mimic his older sister’s routines in the living room. He soon began practicing tumbling on his own, impressing both his family and a local coach who encouraged his mom to enroll him in gymnastics. His natural athleticism led to competitive cheer and eventually to a spot on an All-Star team.
“I was a natural tumbler,” Navon said. “I would get the skills pretty fast, and I felt like this was what I was meant to do.”
Though passionate about cheer, Navon faced challenges in high school. As one of the few male cheerleaders, he encountered stigma and doubt. But with the support of his senior-year coach, Krystle McClain, and his family, he embraced his role and found his place on the team.
“I would come home from work and see him doing a cartwheel,” said Navon’s mother. “He had the straightest legs. I just told him to do it again. A coach saw him tumbling and asked me if we wanted to put him on the team. That’s how it all started.”
After a rigorous application process, Navon was selected to join NCA staff. It was a prestigious honor for any cheerleader, especially one just out of high school.
“Getting accepted to NCA was a dream come true,” Navon said. “It was one of those moments where all my hard work felt worth it. I couldn’t wait to share the news with my family.”
This fall, Navon will continue his cheerleading career at Trinity Valley Community College, where he will study while performing at the collegiate level.
His advice to future cheerleaders, especially those breaking boundaries, is simple and heartfelt:
“Enjoy life. If you’re a guy and you want to do cheerleading, go for it. You only get to be in high school once. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
From backyard tumbling to national cheer camps, Navon Wheaton’s journey is a powerful reminder that passion, perseverance, and self-belief can take you anywhere.