The Formula Family
Jay & Kendra
Owner / Coaches
Jay and Kendra Tercall are the husband-and-wife team behind Formula Cheer, built on a shared passion for coaching and helping young athletes develop both their skills and love for the sport. They met over 10 years ago while coaching all levels of gymnastics — including competitive teams — and specializing in tumbling, a connection that led to both marriage and the dream of opening their own cheer and tumbling gym.
Jay began gymnastics at age 5 and went on to compete through college at Northern Illinois University (NIU). He now leads many of the tumbling classes at Formula and brings decades of experience, energy, and technical skill to the floor. Jay also has an extensive background in coaching competitive gymnastics.
Kendra started cheerleading at age 6 and was a 4-year varsity flyer for Wauconda High School. She has coached both recreational and competitive gymnastics and now leads several elite cheer teams at Formula. Her coaching style blends discipline, encouragement, and deep knowledge of the sport.
Together, they’ve built a gym focused on strong fundamentals, positive culture, and a sense of family. Outside the gym, they’re parents to their 3-year-old son Brady and two golden doodles, Kip and Theo.
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Shaina
Program Director/ Coach / Choreographer
Meet Coach Shaina! She the director of Formula Cheer, and has built an impressive career rooted in her lifelong passion for cheer. With over a decade of experience in allstar cheerleading, she honed her skills early on while competing and training in this high-energy, competitive environment. Shaina went on to cheer at Barrington High School, where she continued building the foundations for what would become a lasting career in cheerleading. After high school, she was asked to be apart of the DePaul University cheer team. Her college years at DePaul University marked another pivotal chapter. As part of the competitive cheerleading team, she experienced elite competition, including the prestigious NCA College Nationals in Daytona, where she learned the importance of teamwork, dedication, and performance under pressure. Post-college, Shaina was presented with the opportunity to lead as Director of Formula Cheer. In this role, she has embraced every challenge and triumph, guiding athletes and building a thriving community of cheerleaders that we call our “Formula Family”. Her passion for all star cheer and choreography has been her constant motivator, and her role as a director at Formula Cheer has allowed her to give back to the sport that has shaped her life.
Hasib
General Manager/ Coach
Hasib Nabi brings a deep foundation in gymnastics and a decade of coaching experience to the Formula Cheer team. A former varsity gymnast at Prospect High School with over 4 years of competitive experience, Hasib has been coaching tumbling since 2015 and continues to elevate athletes through expert technique, high-level training, and motivational energy.
He has coached competitive girls’ gymnastics at both the J.O. and Xcel levels for over 3 years, as well as boys’ pre-team, all while holding a USAG certification. His strong gymnastics background has seamlessly transitioned into the world of cheer and dance, where he’s spent the last 5 years specializing in high-level dance acro instruction.
Hasib is passionate about helping athletes unlock new skills—especially aerials and fulls, his personal favorites to teach. But beyond the physical, he’s driven by the moments when athletes light up after hitting a new skill for the first time: “Every time an athlete gets a new skill, it takes me back to the first time I did it.”
To Hasib, coaching is about more than technique:
​“A good coach can teach you a skill, but a great coach can transform your life.”
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Caitlin
Office Manager/ Coach
Coach Caitlin, with 8 years of experience as an athlete across rec, high school, and all star cheer, I’ve had the opportunity to compete at IHSA events and some of the biggest Varsity All Star stages—including NCA in Dallas, Cheersport in Atlanta, and The Cheerleading Worlds in Orlando. As much as I loved being an athlete, I always knew coaching was where I truly belonged. I’ve been with Formula Cheer since they opened in 2019, and I’m incredibly proud to be entering my fifth season as an elite team coach. Watching our athletes grow in skill and confidence each year is what makes this journey so rewarding.
Maddie
Coach
​Meet Coach Maddie! She has been in the cheerleading industry for 16 years as an athlete, coach, and instructor. She has won a national championship, 2 New Jersey state titles, and 7 regional titles from the northeast. Maddie also received the All American title and All state while in high school. Maddie went on to cheer at Indiana University for their all girl team and competed at college nationals. During college Maddie traveled across the country working for varsity spirit running cheer camps, events, and stunt routines. As a coach she has won a national title, a regional title, and qualified for state. Maddie has moved here to continue her coaching career as well as her teaching career!
Savannah
Coach
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Hi! My name is Savanah McCoy, and cheerleading has been a huge part of my life for over 15 years. From the moment I stepped on the mat, I knew this sport was something special. I was proud to serve as a varsity cheerleader all four years of high school, and for the past four years, I've had the incredible opportunity to give back by coaching in recreational cheer programs.
After working with rec, I have loved the transition to Formula Cheer—being able to work with the prep all-star teams has been such a rewarding experience. Helping athletes build a strong foundation in both their skills and confidence, while watching their love for the sport grow, has made this journey all the more meaningful.
Emer
Coach
​Emer O’Leary is a dedicated cheerleading coach with a decade of experience as a competitive cheerleader. After retiring from the sport following her college career, Emer went on to earn her master’s degree in athletic training, combining her passion for athletics with her commitment to athlete health and performance. Her background as both a high-level performer and a trained athletic professional gives her a unique perspective in coaching, allowing her to focus not only on skill development and team spirit but also on injury prevention and overall athlete well-being.
Eliz
Coach
Coach Eliz! With 9 years of All star cheerleading experience, Coach Eliz brings a deep understanding and passion for cheerleading to Formula Cheer. She understands the dedication and teamwork required to succeed. Eliz has competed at multiple elite competitions placing 1st at WSF, Cheersport Nationals, GLCC , CSG Super Nationals, and has competed at The Summit multiple times. She believes that cheerleading is more than just stunts and a routine and is also about building character, teamwork, and creating a strong work ethic. Drive by a lifelong love for cheerleading, Coach Eliz is dedicated to helping athletes discover their own passion for the sport. She aspires to create transformative experiences, mirroring the positive impact cheerleading had on her own life, aiming to empower athletes to excel both on and off of the mat.
Katherine
Coach
Hi! I’m Katherine Bedka — a passionate coach, dedicated cheerleader, and proud member of the Lake Zurich High School cheer team! I’ve fallen in love with the sport and the incredible community that comes with it. I specialize in stunt technique and love helping athletes build confidence, strength, and solid skills on the mat.
Fluent in both Russian and Ukrainian, I bring a spirit of kindness, respect, and positivity into everything I do. Coaching at Formula has given me the opportunity to train with some of the best staff around, and I can’t wait to carry everything I’ve learned with me into college in the coming years.
Amber
Tot/ Preschool DIrector
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I’m all about two things I love most—fitness and working with kids! Whether we’re jumping, dancing, racing, or just being silly, I love turning movement into play. My goal is to create an environment where every child feels strong, confident, and proud of what they can do. I thrive on mixing structure with fun, helping kids build healthy habits, self-esteem, and a lifelong love of moving their bodies. Every class is a chance to laugh, learn, and grow—together!
Matt
Coach
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Matthew Whittington is a dedicated tumbling and gymnastics coach with over five years of coaching experience and a lifelong passion for the sport. A former competitive gymnast for 18 years, Matthew competed at the national level and was strongest on floor exercise, high bar, and vault. He spent four years as an NCAA Division I gymnast at the University of Illinois Chicago while earning his degree in Business, where he honed both his athletic and leadership skills.
Known for his high-energy coaching style and deep technical expertise, Matthew specializes in advanced tumbling skills and works with athletes of all levels. His coaching philosophy emphasizes not only physical and mental strength, but also self-esteem, confidence, and character development—believing strongly in the lifelong value of lessons learned in the gym.
Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Matthew is always looking for ways to elevate the athlete experience and take training to the next level. Health and fitness aren't just his career—they’re a way of life. He had carried his high intensity work ethic and competitive spirit into the work force never forgetting that most of Matthew’s traits and characteristics were built in the gym.
Natalie
Coach
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I started cheering when i was in kindergarten with LZ Flames, my journey has been one of continuous growth and adaptation. Transitioning to Allstar cheer, I embraced the dynamic nature of teamwork across four different teams, each experience adding a layer to my skills and understanding. Now, as a two-year Varsity cheerleader at Lake Zurich High School, I exemplify commitment and leadership.
