Skylar Flanagan: Tumbling Into a Coaching Career

By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart

At 22-years old-Skylar Flanagan (SPRT’ 25) has it all figured out. Earn a Sport Studies: A.S. degree from SUNY Broome? Check. Land her dream job? Check. Become a mentor for the next generation? Check. Skylar to some, ‘Coach Sky’ to others, the young woman who was once afraid to participate in competitive sports, now confidently trains elite-level athletes to compete across the nation. 

Born in Hunan, China, Flanagan was adopted by Thomas and Sharon Flanagan of Binghamton, NY. The proud parents noticed their daughter’s natural athleticism early on and enrolled her in gymnastics classes. Though she was strong, flexible, and agile, she was also painfully shy. While she loved mastering progressive skills in the gym, she was far too timid to compete in front of a panel of judges. 

“As a non-competitive gymnast, I was often forgotten in the gym,” Flanagan explained. “I was crushed to stop gymnastics, but it felt like the right move at the time.”

During her sophomore year at Chenango Forks High School, Flanagan went searching for something to do “just for me.” She stumbled (well, technically, tumbled) into cheer. While unfamiliar with both sideline and competitive cheerleading, Flanagan soon realized that she could reawaken her inner gymnast within the cheer world. Even better: instead of performing and competing alone, she could do so with a team by her side. 

Her skills as a tumbler transitioned to flying, where she showcased her strength, technique, and balance through stunts in the air. As a junior, Flanagan and her Chenango Forks cheer teammates qualified for the state championships, but when they returned from the competition, their world — and everyone else’s — shut down.

“We came back from states just before New York went into lockdown,” Flanagan said. “I didn’t return to Chenango Forks until our outdoor graduation ceremony more than a year later.”

Like most of her generation, Flanagan’s pandemic years were full of uncertainty. School was remote, sports and activities were put on hiatus, and competitions ceased altogether. But Flanagan did have some clarity when it came time to finalize her college plans. SUNY Broome was close to home, accessible, and ideal for easing back into the rigor of traditional, post-pandemic academia. 

Flanagan’s first few semesters at her community’s college were full of exploration. Initially hoping to become a dermatologist, she enrolled in the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Science: A.S. program to begin the long road to medical school. Anticipating her eventual burnout at the thought of eight-plus years of future schooling, she dabbled in Engineering Science: A.S. for precisely one day before she once again listened to her inner feeling that “this is not for me.”

“I started looking through all of the courses that were being offered and kept coming back to the physical education classes,” Flanagan explained. “Yoga, tennis, and ice skating all sounded so fun, but I was also really intrigued by classes like ‘Personal and Community Health’ and ‘History and Philosophy of Physical Education and Sport.’ So, I decided to become a Sport Studies: A.S. student.”

With her academic plans squared away, Flanagan was ready to resume her athletic endeavors. Hoping to retain the tumbling skills that she had devoted years to building, she began a phone and email campaign to all of the gyms in the area.

“I reached out to every gym with the same plea. ‘I’m 19 years old, and I’m just looking to tumble,” Flanagan said. “I kept getting the same response: ‘You’re too old.’ One gym literally laughed me off the phone.” 

Defeated, Flanagan made her final call to a new gym designed to support the region’s growing competitive cheer program, Freedom Allstar Cheer and Tumble. 

“They fully understood my worry of ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it,’ and invited me to the next open gym,” Flanagan shared. “I walked through the doors and immediately felt at home.”

When Flangan wasn’t in class at SUNY Broome, she was in the gym at Freedom, perfecting impressive layouts across the floor. Her work ethic, technique, and positive attitude quickly caught the attention of Freedom’s coaching staff. As part of her sports studies degree, Flanagan was required to complete an exercise assistant internship within the community. While most students were unsure about where they wanted to intern, Flanagan knew precisely what she wanted to do.

“I wanted to get my foot in the door at Freedom for a while, but I didn’t know how to do it. My sports studies internship was the perfect opportunity,” Flanagan explained. “I asked Jen Formanek, Freedom’s owner and head coach, if I could shadow her. She said that not only could I shadow her, but that she had been watching me for months and was hoping to hire me. The rest is history!”

A typical day for Coach Sky includes a full day at the gym, balancing coaching more than 100 elite-level cheerleaders with offering private tumbling lessons for athletes hoping to develop and perfect their foundational skills for each level of competition. Flanagan is savoring every moment of her exciting coaching career, but also approaches each day with profound wisdom that’s far beyond her age. 

“My work is very physical, and my body is my main equipment. I have to ensure that I am staying healthy and strong, both mentally and physically, to give my best to the young athletes that I work with every day.” 

Skylar’s Advice for Future SUNY Broome Students: “Don’t feel pressured to stay stuck in your decisions. Find a class you love and let it guide you from there.”

Skylar’s Advice for Future Cheerleaders: “Come to an open gym! There is absolutely no pressure. Come, meet new people, and start with basic tumbling. Cheer is a very welcoming and supportive community!”

Skylar’s Thoughts on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month: “I’m really looking forward to exploring more about my culture now that I am older.” 

Inspired by Skylar’s path? Learn more about SUNY Broome’s Sport Studies: A.S. program!

Tags: AAPI, Alumni, Liberal Arts Division, Profile, Sport Studies AS