Meet the owners

Our Story

RISE Athletics was established not only because we love this sport but more importantly, we love Jesus Christ and want our athletes to see the character of Christ in them. That character is the RISE STANDARD of behavior that Branden and Julie Ledbetter demonstrate and expect from athletes and parents at Rise Athletics. Kali Seitzer will be our RISE coaching consultant.

Branden and Julie are married and met in college. Julie has cheered competitively from age 10 and has won countless state and national titles. Coach Julie was a college cheerleader at Western Michigan University when she met her husband, Branden. Branden and Julie have two children, Madisyn 15 and Noah 9.  Coach Branden played D1 football at Western Michigan University. Coach Branden will be responsible for Our RISE strength and conditioning programming.

The Ledbetter’s are the former owners of Rock Solid athletics in Henderson, Colorado (now re-named Rock Cheer Company). Rock Solid started with Julie’s passion for youth and cheer. Season one we hit the mat with 30 athletes and grew to over 150 athletes by season four. Rock Solid was the highest scoring D2 gym in the state of Colorado. Rock Solid has won hundreds of in state and national titles. The Ledbetter’s established both Rock Solid and now, RISE, with the purpose providing a safe, FUN, affordable, highly competitive, quality gym that gives all youth athletes an opportunity to feel validated, excited, and inspired to RISE to their greatest potential.  Coach Kali lives in Miami, Florida and is the current Director at TOP GUN Miami (the real Top Gun). She will be dedicated to RISE Athletics once a month to overlook all the teams and see the progress of the program. She will be available to Rise Athletics Coaches via zoom and facetime at all times.  Coach Julie and Coach Kali will be overseeing ALL Rise Athletics 23-24 teams, classes, camps, and clinics. They have a proven track record of success working together at Rock Solid and want to continue that success now here in Tennessee. Coach Julie and Coach Kali are 100% confident that together they will take your athlete to the next level. They will work cohesively together to make sure our athletes grow and progress the RISE WAY!

The Ledbetter family relocated from Colorado to Tellico Plains, Tennessee for Coach Branden’s new job in 2021. After being here for some time they realized that the love they had for their old athletes and gym can be poured out on the youth here. With lots of prayer and needing God to move mountains for this happen, RISE ATHLETICS was born.