SPRUCE PINE, NC (WJHL) – A recent study put out by the academy of pediatrics says cheerleading injuries are on the decline

and a cheer-leading group in spruce pine is hoping to keep those numbers down.

After several injuries and an increase in membership, Sparkle N Shine All Star Cheer-leading  is leaning on the community for support with getting new safe mats to practice on.

On a Saturday mornings inside a recreation center in the small community of Spruce Pine, North Carolina you will find the Sparkle N Shine All-star Cheerleading team. Practicing and working hard to out shine the competition.

“I really love this team, i enjoy everyone here, its like a family to me,” Lilly Cable said.

Lilly Cable has been competing with the team for the last two seasons.

“I would really like to get a scholarship for cheer-leading, I have tried so hard and if i know how to tumble and i know how to stunt, I  feel like that would help me a lot.”

Lilly says while the current mats they have work fine, having a special spring board mat would make practicing easier and more safe.

“there has been a lot of spinal injuries, there has been a lot of knee injuries, wrist injuries, i have a wrist injuries and that is one of the reasons why i wanted a spring board.”

In a recent study released by the american academy of pediatrics, injury rating in cheerleading ranked 18th of 22 sports. Concussions are ranked as the top injury by cheerleaders at just over 30 % nation wide.

Head coach and owner Crystle Austin makes sure the girls are safe. She says the team has grown in size and their currents practice mats are not enough.

“We have a hard time trying to get equal practice time on our floor,” Austin said.

She and her squad are leaning on the community for help. The price tag, a little over $5,000 to get a new safe springboard mat for practice.

“It has been challenging because of not having the mats,” Lena Belk said.

Lena Belk has been part of sparkle and shine since its inception three years ago. she says a new floor is long overdue.

I’ve tour ligaments and i’ve had knee problems as well and if we don’t have what we need then it is very easy to get hurt,” Belk said.

For now, the team stays on alert and are hoping that new mats can be delivered soon. Sparkle N Shine All-star Cheerleaders are working on a “Color Run” Fundraiser in June. For more information on how you can support this team: https://www.facebook.com/SparkleNShineAllstars/?fref=tsCopyright 2016 WJHL. All Rights Reserved.