BELL COUNTY, Ky. — The members of the Crater City Gems All-Star Cheerleading team are preparing for their first competition of the fall.

Team members and coaches plan to bring their A-game to the virtual event, building on a tradition of winning that has taken the Middlesboro-based team to national-level events.

Amber Overton, the head coach, said how the team members approach their performance is almost as important as winning or losing.

"We want all kids to know that they have a place, and they are good enough, and that all it takes is somebody to work with them, and for them to realize that they have potential, and to put work into what they're doing," Overton said.

Overton, a lifelong athlete, said she founded Crater City Gems to meet multiple needs in the community. She saw a ne

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