Match 2 Recap: Miami Metal Maintains Dominance in Sold-Out Atlanta Thriller

If Indianapolis was the league’s “soft launch,” Match 2 in Atlanta was the grand opening.

Professional cheerleading officially leveled up Friday night as a sold-out crowd of 10,000 fans packed the arena to witness a tactical evolution of the sport.

While the atmosphere was electric, the result remained clinical: Miami Metal secured their second consecutive win, finishing the night with a near-perfect 15 out of 16 possible points.

The victory earned Miami their second $15,000 prize check in as many matches, extending their lead in the standings as the league’s clear team to beat.

Written By Chelsie Hollencamp — documenting the Pro Cheer League’s inaugural season. Image via @kikegcia

THE CURRENT STANDINGS

Miami Metal: 28 points
Dallas Drive: 23 points
Golden State Grit: 15 points
Atlanta Air: 14 points

See the League Table here.

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QUARTER 1: CREATIVE ROUTINES

Miami Metal anchored the first quarter by winning the creative routine, a significant rebound from their performance in Indianapolis.

In a high-stakes gamble, the coaching staff overhauled 75% of the routine specifically for Atlanta.

The performance on the mat was the team’s first “full out” with the new choreography—a feat that left Coach Jose Gonzalez visibly emotional as he spoke to viewers immediately post-match about the grit required to execute such a massive change in days.

Quarter 1 Scores:

Metal: 4 points
Drive: 3 points
Air: 2 points
Grit: 1 point

QUARTER 2: BATTLE GAMES

Coed Endurance (Cupie High-to-High): The night’s most dominant display occurred as Miami’s Kollin Cockrell and Hailey D’Lynn Smith set a new professional benchmark.

The duo hit 52 popovers in the newly implemented 45-second clock—nearly doubling the previous league record. Smith’s ability to maintain total body rigidity allowed Cockrell to maintain a piston-like cycle rate that left the field trailing. Golden State Grit was able to hit about 40 in the same time frame.

Hangtime (Basket Tosses Height Challenge): When reviewing the camera for the official call Miami’s Julia Romero won a close call and took control of the match from Golden State Grit.

All-Girl Big Trick: Atlanta Air secured another point with an impressive showing, highlighted by an arabesque Arabian-style dismount to prone.

Quarter 2 Scores:

Metal: 4 points
Grit: 3 points
Air: 2 points
Drive: 1 point

QUARTER 3: BATTLE GAMES

Last Pass: The round featured an evenly matched showdown between Dallas Drive and Golden State Grit. While both teams displayed similar technique, judges ultimately awarded the point to Dallas for superior synchronization.

The loudest moment of the night, however, was also its most debated.

Atlanta Air’s Devonte “Dee” Joseph executed a Quadruple Full, but the move was flagged as illegal. Despite the skill being better executed than most double-fulls seen at the elite amateur level, the technical violation resulted in a forfeiture of the round.

“If Dee can perform it safely, why shouldn’t he be able to do it!” said Atlanta Air Coach Paige Colon post-match.

All-Girl Endurance: Atlanta Air took the victory in this round after Golden State Grit suffered a fall. With the 45-second clock now in play, the Air proved that their “speed-pop” strategy is the most efficient in the league.

Hangtime (Basket Tosses Height Challenge): In perhaps the biggest shock of the night, Miami Metal surrendered their only point of the match. Despite their overall dominance, they fell to Dallas Drive, led by the explosive power and captaincy of Madison Hayes.

While specific heights weren’t released, visual improvements over Indy were apparent across all four rosters.

Quarter 3 Scores:

Drive: 4 points
Metal: 3 points
Air: 2 points
Grit: 1 point

QUARTER 4: BATTLE GAMES

Flash Pyramid (Silhouette Race): In a high-speed test of teamwork, the Flash Pyramid remained a “coin toss” game where momentum is everything. Miami Metal showed no mercy, sweeping Golden State Grit 3-0. Meanwhile, Dallas Drive relied on their veteran composure to outpace Atlanta Air for the point.

Coed Big Trick: Miami’s Hailey D’Lynn Smith and Josh Hill delivered a masterclass, showcasing a “Shooting Star” sequence that featured two distinct skills and a unique dismount.

While Dallas Drive’s Anuhea Keene and her partner provided an impressive performance, judges noted they showed the same skill two different ways, awarding the round to Miami.

Bullseye (Tumbling Precision): While Miami dominated the standings, Atlanta Air’s Corey Pullen provided hometown heroics. In a precision challenge that pushed into two overtime rounds, Pullen remained ice-cold, landing a near-perfect bullseye to secure a critical third place for Atlanta.

Quarter 4 Scores:

Metal: 4 points
Drive: 3 points
Air: 2 points
Grit: 1 point

STANDOUT MOMENTS

Athlete Iconography: The shift from program-based fandom to athlete-driven support was undeniable; merch lines for jerseys belonging to stars like Maddy Brum and Gabi Butler rivaled the concession lines.

Refining the Format: The transition to a 45-second clock for endurance games added a layer of urgency and athleticism, replacing the “until they drop” format from Indy and making the matches more broadcast-friendly.

WHAT’S NEXT

THE NEXT FRONTIER: SPACE CITY

Miami Metal currently looks like a runaway train, but the league moves to the Toyota Center in Houston on February 27 for a match appropriately themed “Out of This World.”

Held alongside NCA All-Star Nationals, this will be a homecoming for the Texas-heavy roster of the Dallas Drive.

Dallas will need to find their orbit in their home state to stop Miami’s momentum before the inaugural season turns into a coronation.

Chelsie Hollencamp is documenting the Pro Cheer League’s inaugural season with embedded athlete access and nearly a decade of competitive cheerleading expertise. Follow Founding Season’s coverage of professional cheerleading’s first year at foundingseasonpcl.substack.com for in-depth athlete profiles, technical analysis, and honest reporting on what it means to be a founding professional cheerleader.