(March 17, 2013) -- It all started for carlie liles at Texas Dynasty Cheer and Gymnastics.

"I just took a tumbling class in 3rd grade and really fell in love with it so I just started on a competitive cheer team here," said China Spring High School Senior Carlie Liles.

But Liles was starting to outgrow her team in Waco, so she watched the Panthers, a cheer athletics team out of Plano.

"Last year I went to NCA and watched them and they just did so good and I was just like, 'wow, I really want to be on that team," said Liles. "I also watched them at worlds last year and they did amazing. So, my parents let me tryout this past year."

It's been quite a year. The Panthers won the large all-girl division five national title and grand national championship at NCA All-Star Nationals earlier this month, a great accomplishment.
But there are questions whether or not its an actual sport.

"We get it all the time how people don't think it's a sport. But, it doesn't really bother me," said Liles. "We just do what we love to do and cheer. We all think its a sport, but it just doesn't really matter what other people say."

Sport or not, it's a competition that's been growing.

"If I look back to when I first started doing it and to where it is now, it's a huge difference," said Liles.

A competition, or sport, that's made a big difference in the life of Carlie Liles.