Let’s backtrack for a minute to get you caught up… “Aerial” refers to being in the air, and Aerial Arts is made up of different apparatuses (equipment) such as Aerial Silks — long fabric descending from the ceiling; Aerial Hoop — a large metal hoop suspended from the ceiling; and Aerial Pole — part of the pole arts or “flying pole,” where the pole is attached only to the ceiling instead of both the floor and ceiling.
Arrow Athletics has focused primarily on Aerial Silks and Aerial Hoop, led by Florida native Coach Amanda Scott. The program has been in Jackson since 2019, starting with just eight athletes and growing to thirty over the past five years. Each year, the program has put on a remarkable Aerial Show — much like a mini-Cirque performance — right here in Jackson! The year 2024 marked their 5th annual showcase, and they are now preparing for their 6th in September.
Circling back to how they struck gold: Coach Amanda originally trained and learned Aerial Arts in Charleston, SC. A studio owner there kept in contact with Amanda, watching not only her growth as an aerialist but also the strength and skill of the young athletes she trained.
Tanya Christopher of the United States Aerial Federation (USAF) Competition personally reached out to Amanda to invite her and her team to participate. In 2023, Amanda and three of her athletes decided to compete.
Without knowing much about the competition, Amanda and one athlete unexpectedly qualified for the World Competition to represent the United States in their categories in Poland. Although Amanda didn’t bring home a medal for USA, the experience gave her valuable knowledge of the aerial competition world.
“I was incredibly grateful to be able to attend Worlds. Since it was my first year, I went in kind of blind, but the other countries and athletes were welcoming, gave advice, and supported one another with enthusiasm. I felt inspired and prepared to try again the following year, hopefully, with young athletes” says Coach Amanda — and she did just that.
In 2024, she took a team of 11 athletes to USAF, where she and two athletes qualified in four categories for Worlds 2024 in Sweden.
This year, Coach Amanda and five athletes qualified — meaning they finished 1st place at Nationals — and will now go on to represent the United States of America at the World Pole and Aerial Sports Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina!
United States Aerial Federation National Championships — Tennessee 1st Place World Qualifiers –
• Aerial Hoop Sport Doubles Novice Mixed: Sibylla Lomax & Emmi Verell
• Aerial Hoop Sport Novice Mixed: Emmi Verell
• Artistic Aerial Hoop Doubles Junior: Kylie Cartwright & Sophia Quinteros
• Artistic Aerial Silks Junior: Kylie Cartwright
• Aerial Hoop Sport Senior Women 30–39: Amanda Scott
• Artistic Aerial Hoop Senior Women 30–39: Amanda Scott
• Artistic Aerial Hoop Group 14+: Kylie Cartwright, Jessy Griffin, Abigail Stanton, Amanda Scott, Sophia Quinteros
Overall, the team brought home 13 medals at the National Championships. Congratulations to all our national winners — and good luck to our athletes headed to Worlds in Argentina!
We are proud that our city of Jackson, TN, will be represented on the World Pole and Aerial Championships stage as part of Team USA.
To donate to the Tennessee athletes on Team USA, visit their GoFundMe: Send Jackson Aerial Arts to Argentina.
Follow the program on Facebook: House of Misfits Aerial Arts Halloween Showcase
Watch all National routines and athletes on YouTube: search US Aerial Federation. Under “Videos,” look for all 2025 routines.
