Parents frustrated with Wake schools' severing of ties with cheerleading company after lawsuit

The Wake County Public School System says it is cutting ties with cheerleading company Varsity Spirit.

The news comes after the company was named in a federal lawsuit accusing a local gym of failing to protect a cheerleader from sexual abuse.

The school district says it's not allowing any Wake County cheer squads to compete at Varsity Spirit events. Some families tell me their children have spent countless hours training for these competitions and the district should've gotten their input.

Bryan Gelfand, a parent of a WCPSS cheerleader said she was "very, very disappointed."

"I know the team is disappointed, I know the coach is disappointed," she said.

Gelfand says his daughter's cheer squad was about to take the field at Apex Friendship High School for senior night, then the coach got a message from the district.

"Immediately banning any Wake County teams from participating in any Varsity Spirit event," he said. "Which means the competition we had in Asheville in like, six days was canceled after travel and hotels were arranged."

Gelfand says the team was told Wake County schools was cutting ties with Varsity Spirit.

Varsity Spirit is a national cheerleading company that hosts major competitions.

On Thursday, the company was named in a federal lawsuit against local cheer Gym Cheer Extreme, where an anonymous young man says he was sexually abused by an older coach and staff failed to act.

The lawsuit claims Varsity Spirit and the USA cheer organization have conspired to create a culture of abuse in the world of competitive cheerleading. A Varsity Spirit spokesperson released a statement to WRAL News on Monday, adding "we were devastated to learn of these reports of sexual abuse, and our hearts go out to the survivors and their loved ones. We strongly support their fight for justice."

Families say Varsity Spirit sponsored all of their competitive events, including the NCHSAA state competition.

Some parents feel the athletes and families should have had a say in the decision.

"They made a decision about the kids and that would affect every kid in Wake County without talking to the individual schools, the individual coaches, or the parents or the kids," Gelfand said.

In a statement, Wake County schools confirmed cheerleading teams won't be allowed at Varsity Spirit events, saying "ultimately the decision was made based on what we believe to be the best interest and well-being of our students at this time."

The district says they fully acknowledge the impact of the decision on student-athletes and their families, and it was not made without consideration of all factors.

NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker told WRAL News, "due to circumstances beyond our control, Varsity Spirit will not be involved in the state invitational."

The commissioner says the state is searching for another partner to host the event. They hope to announce the new plan as soon as Wednesday.