Former Bank Building to Become Richmond's Next Cheerleading and Tumbling Gym

Virtus Athletics to open in Scott's Addition neighborhood, offering cheer, tumbling, and community-building classes.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A former bank building in Richmond's Scott's Addition neighborhood is being transformed into a new cheerleading and tumbling gym called Virtus Athletics. The nearly 10,000-square-foot space will be operated by former college cheerleaders Blake Whetzel and Maddie Blankenship, who plan to offer a mix of tumbling and cheerleading classes and camps for kids and adults of all skill levels. The gym's name is inspired by the goddess Virtus, who represents strength and power, and the owners hope to build not just strong cheerleaders, but confident individuals.

Why it matters

The opening of Virtus Athletics reflects the growing popularity of cheerleading as a sport, with new professional leagues and increased demand for world championship competitions. The gym will provide a central space for the Richmond community to develop cheer and tumbling skills, as well as build confidence and character.

The details

Whetzel and Blankenship have worked with over 100 cheerleading teams across Virginia over the past five years. They are excited to have a permanent space in Scott's Addition where they can offer a range of classes and camps, from beginner tumbling to advanced cheer routines. In addition to cheer and tumbling, the gym will eventually offer stretch and flex classes for adults on Friday mornings.

  • Virtus Athletics is set to officially open in early April 2026.
  • The gym is taking over a nearly 10,000-square-foot former bank building on West Broad Street in Richmond's Scott's Addition neighborhood.

The players

Blake Whetzel

Former college cheerleader and co-founder of Virtus Athletics.

Maddie Blankenship

Former college cheerleader and co-founder of Virtus Athletics.

Virtus Athletics

A new cheerleading and tumbling gym opening in Richmond's Scott's Addition neighborhood.

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What they’re saying

“Virtus is actually the goddess that is on the Virginia flag, and so it's a woman of strength, a woman of power, and somebody that you look up to and respect. And that's what we want to build our athletes to be. We want our athletes to be able to leave our training process and feel confident in who they are, be excited for just going out into the world and that they can go out there and be proud of who they are.”

— Blake Whetzel, Co-founder, Virtus Athletics (wtvr.com)

“I want them to be able to come into the gym, and then as they spend time with us, as they progress, they learn how to grow in their skills, but also in their confidence and how they carry themselves throughout the world. We want to build not only good cheerleaders, but good humans, too.”

— Maddie Blankenship, Co-founder, Virtus Athletics (wtvr.com)

What’s next

Virtus Athletics is scheduled to officially open in early April 2026, offering a range of cheer, tumbling, and adult fitness classes in its new Scott's Addition location.

The takeaway

The opening of Virtus Athletics reflects the growing popularity of cheerleading as a sport and the desire to provide a welcoming, community-focused space for individuals to develop not just physical skills, but also confidence and character. The gym's focus on building 'good humans' in addition to skilled cheerleaders sets it apart as a unique addition to Richmond's fitness and youth development landscape.