Netflix ‘Cheer’: Meet Monica Aldama And The Navarro College Cheerleaders

Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas is a small institution but it is leaving a big mark in the collegiate world and it is cheerleading that is making the institution famous. No wonder the school treats cheerleading as a serious business.

Now the Navarro College’s cheer team has become the subject of Netflix’s newest documentary series. The streaming provider announced that it will be releasing “Cheer” that will feature the school’s cheerleaders, their mentor, each of the team member’s backstories and their journey in the hopes to win another national championship.

The Navarro College Bulldogs Cheer Team that is a 14-time NCA National Championship winner and 5-time Grand National champion after competing under the junior college division since 2000, will show the viewers how they are preparing for their next national competition that will take place on Daytona Beach, Florida. “Cheer” premieres on Jan. 8.

“Over the course of six episodes join the team members as they face injuries, sacrifice, personal setbacks and triumphs, all leading up to one nail-biting and adrenaline-pumping final competition at the National Championship,” the docuseries’ synopsis reads.

The team is being led by Monica Aldama and on her Instagram, her profile simply states that she is the “Navarro College cheer coach.” She is being modest because she is actually more than just the team’s head coach who led the team to 14 national grand trophies and other notable titles.

Aldama is an icon in the cheering field and with over 24 years of experience. Cheerleaders call her “the Queen” but she always stays humble and prefers to put the kids on the frontline so they can shine, instead of herself who stay on the sidelines.

In any case, even if all the cheerleaders at the Navarro College are skillful and impressive, five of them get the most attention due to their backgrounds and moving storylines. The cheerleaders who stole the show are:

Morgan Simianer

Her parents divorced when she was really young so she and her brother grew up with their grandparents. Her relationship with her dad is not good as she felt betrayed when he left them to start a new family. Morgan was able to join the team after traveling from Wyoming to Texas to audition. Check out her Instagram.

Gabi Butler

Gabi is probably the most popular as she has a big number of followers on social media. Her fame that exploded on Instagram has grown and this made her parents devote their time to managing and marketing her brand. She has been described as down-to-earth and does her best in the sport.

La’Darius Marshall

He is one of the strongest team members and displays excellent skills at the stunts. He has bad memories of his childhood while still living in Florida and after becoming a cheerleader, he thinks it is helping him quell some of the resentments he acquired during that depressing phase of his life. Fans can follow him here.

Lexi Brumback

She is a high-school dropout so being part of the team is a big deal for her. Because she is an out-of-school youth, Lexi thinks she could have ended up in jail already if her path did not lead her to the cheering world. On her social media account, she usually posts scenes from practice or her time out with her friends who are mostly cheerleaders as well.

Jerry Harris

He is a happy-go-lucky guy who also had a rough upbringing. He lost his mother early but rather than being angry at life, he works harder in the team. His efforts and determination are enough to make him deserving to compete at the nationals although he has yet to make the cut. Find updates about him here.

Netflix’s “Cheer” is directed by Greg Whiteley, the same man behind the “Last Chance U” series.