TIFFANY AND Liam Calvert are the owners of Magic Athletics. They have been anchored in the community for years and began their business at the old cotton mill. It was a space they quickly outgrew within six months as enrollment soared. Their next location also proved problematic. “If it was hot outside, it was really hot in there,” Tiffany remembered. “If it was cold outside, it was really, really cold!” They’d made some adaptations to the building, but it was never comfortable enough that anyone wanted to be there 10 to 12 hours a day — a crucial shortcoming. “Most of our kids are doing hard, physical activity. You don’t want to do that when you’re freezing, and you don’t want to do that when you’re sweltering!”
At some point, they received word that the Stonebridge Academy school was up for sale, which seemed to be just what they were looking for. They purchased it to grow their programs and increase their community involvement.
And this is exactly what they’ve done. Magic Athletics offers tumbling, ninja, cheerleading classes, and competition cheer. Tiffany and Liam also own a party rental business with bounce houses and water slides — ideal for birthday parties, as most parents will attest. And if that were not enough, the Calverts also run Fayetteville Fitness, which has its own array of programs and classes. Sitting around doesn’t seem to be part of their daily routine.
The age range for Magic Athletics is broad. There are baby classes beginning at 6 months, but most of their focus is from age 2 to 18. There are also adult tumbling classes — but as Liam pointed out, “the adult classes are only 18 and older, so you’re not going to be a 30-year-old in a class with a 12-year-old.” In addition, there are options for private classes.
Their community involvement is extensive and has come about organically. Both Liam and Tiffany are not only community members but also parents. It was obvious to them that many parents had to scramble for appropriate summer activities for their kids. In response, they recently opened up a summer camp. When the summer started, there were 13 kids. When it ended, there were 36. The numbers tell the story.
Parents also have to scramble when their kids are off from school for whatever reason, but the parents still have to work. Another of their offerings is providing an all-day outlet for kids when these situations arise. “It ensures that parents have a fun, safe place where their kids are constantly watched, but they’re physically active and moving around. It’s a good place to come to,” Tiffany said.
The Calverts laud their amazing staff, who are like a family and form their own tight-knit little community together. Many of the staff are the kids of teachers, police officers, and firefighters in the community, and they understand the wants and needs of the community and how they would have been expected to be treated when they were kids. “They can count on us as much as we can count on them,” Tiffany said. “Everybody is willing to help out at any time because it really is a family.”
The community connections are constant and ongoing. Because Magic Athletics offers adult programs, parents can drop off their kids for tumbling or cheer practice and then utilize the adult components of Magic Athletics — or simply take an hour for themselves.
Every initiative the Calverts take keeps the community in mind. After COVID-19, for example, the city had difficulty getting its soccer program up and running again. Liam and Tiffany took it upon themselves to get the program up and running for four seasons — two years — until the town was ready to resume. But the Calverts made sure the games were played on city fields. So, the local links are constant.
“Everyone says it takes a village to raise children,” Tiffany concluded. “I really believe that.” Both Liam and Tiffany put that belief into action. It’s an ethos that also extends to the community as a whole. They offer connection in what can be a very disconnected world. GN
