Anslee McCauley to represent team USA

Every once in a while, a story comes along that reminds us just how much extraordinary talent we have right here in Cherokee County. This is one of those stories, and we want everyone in our community to know the name Anslee McCauley!

At just 15 years old, Anslee is preparing to travel to France to represent the United States of America in an international gymnastics competition. And while she will be wearing the red, white and blue of Team USA, she will also be carrying the pride of a community right here in Woodstock, Georgia, where she has spent countless hours training and chasing her dreams.

Anslee trains at Georgia All Star Gymnastics in Woodstock, a gymnastics facility that has been helping young athletes develop their talents for more than three decades. The organization has taught generations of young people that becoming a champion requires far more than natural ability. It takes discipline, perseverance, sacrifice and the courage to keep trying when things get difficult.

And Anslee is living proof of what that dedication can accomplish!

Earlier this year, Anslee competed against some of the finest junior gymnasts in America at the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Phoenix, Arizona. She emerged as the United States Junior National Champion on the balance beam, finished sixth on vault and eighth in the all around competition.

Those remarkable accomplishments helped establish Anslee among the nation's elite young gymnasts and earned her a place on the U.S. Junior Women's National Team. According to Georgia All Star Gymnastics, she is the only gymnast from Georgia on that junior national team.

But Anslee's journey didn't begin with a national championship medal. According to her official USA Gymnastics biography, she began gymnastics in 2013, when she was just a little girl growing up around the sport.

Her mother was also a gymnast and has coached gymnastics since Anslee was born. Anslee says she practically grew up in the gym, making gymnastics not simply an activity she discovered, but something that has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.

Today, her head coaches are Jamie Beliveau and Jorgen Falk, who are helping prepare her for the demands of elite international competition. Behind every successful young athlete are people who invest their time, knowledge and encouragement, and Anslee's coaches and family have helped her reach a level that very few young gymnasts ever achieve.

Now comes an opportunity that most athletes can only dream about, and Anslee has earned her place among them. She is preparing to take everything she has learned in Georgia and put it to the test on the international stage.

On October 31 and November 1, Anslee will compete at the Combs La Ville International Tournament in France, an international event featuring talented gymnasts representing their countries. USA Gymnastics has selected nine American athletes for the competition, including six juniors.

Anslee will compete on a three member American junior team alongside Paisley Ritger and Cassandra Tan. Another American junior team will include Eva Doherty, Madelyn Eagle and Amia Pugh Banks

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA:

Residents who enjoy spending time on Lake Allatoona are being encouraged to roll up their sleeves and help protect one of North Georgia’s most treasured outdoor destinations.

Registration is now open for the 2026 Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup, an annual community effort organized by the Lake Allatoona Association to remove litter and debris from the lake and its shoreline.

The cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, with participant check in taking place from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Cleanup activities will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m.

Each year, volunteers from across Cherokee County and surrounding communities come together to help preserve the beauty and health of Lake Allatoona. The event provides an opportunity for families, boaters, anglers, civic groups, and local businesses to make a positive impact on the environment while enjoying a day outdoors.

Organizers say keeping trash out of the lake helps protect wildlife, improve water quality, and ensure future generations can continue to enjoy the popular recreation area.

Those interested in participating can register online or show up in person. 

The Lake Allatoona Association hopes to see hundreds of volunteers join the effort to keep one of Georgia’s most popular lakes clean, safe, and beautiful for everyone.

Eye on Cherokee will continue to share updates as the event approaches.