The pom-poms will be flying and fans screaming this Saturday in Morinville as student cheerleaders face off for the top prize at provincials.
Hundreds of elementary, junior high, and high school athletes and their fans will be at Morinville Leisure Centre this April 14 and 15 for the 2023 Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association and Alberta Cheerleading Association provincial championships.
This is the first time that these events have been hosted in Morinville, said ASAA provincials organizer Amanda Bulger. The ASAA tournament will see some 13 high school teams dance, jump, toss, roll, and shout before a panel of judges to see who can best hype up the hundreds of guests in the stands on April 14 and 15. Another 23 elementary and junior high teams will compete in the ASA championships April 15. Top performers will take home banners and medals.
“The teams have all been working really hard,” Bulger said, and the competition has been fierce at the cheer meets leading up to provincials.
Bulger said this year’s ASAA tournament does not feature any teams from southern Alberta, and will not have an Advanced All Gender event, as there is just one team in that category at the tournament.
“Unfortunately, COVID really put a damper on a lot of the (cheer) programs,” Bulger said, and many schools are still rebuilding their teams.
Representing St. Albert at provincials are the St. Albert Catholic High School Skyhawks and the GSACRD Chargers, both of which draw students from many St. Albert schools.
The Skyhawks senior high cheer team is back this year after a seven-year absence, noted coach Brittany Ringuette. (The team disbanded in 2016 due to a lack of interest.) They and the Chargers junior high team have been working on their 2.5-minute cheer routines since October, meeting twice a week to practice their flips, dances, pyramids, and shouts.
Paul Kane Grade 10 student Layla Durocher will be strutting and cheering with the Skyhawks at provincials as part of the Game Day competition, where teams demonstrate how they rally spectators at a sporting event.
Cheerleading requires endurance to get through a high-intensity routine and leg strength to throw and catch fellow athletes, Durocher said. Trust and teamwork are a must — if you’re letting someone toss you in the air, you need to have faith they will catch you. A botched stunt or move in a routine can result in injuries.
Cheer teams also need strong bonds to put out the enthusiasm needed for a good performance, said teammate and SACHS Grade 10 student Kim Vague.
“If a cheer team doesn’t have a good bond and gets on stage, the audience is going to realize that.”
Durocher said cheerleading was a great way to build confidence and make new friends.
“It’s so much adrenaline,” she said.
“You know you’re the one making the crowd react like that. It’s just an incredible feeling.”
The ASAA tournament runs from 6 to 8 p.m. April 14 and 1:40 to 4:45 p.m. April 15 at the Morinville Leisure Centre. The ASA tournament runs from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 15. Spectator tickets start at $15 and are available through the Morinville Community High website or at the door. Visit www.asaa.ca/championships/site/2023-asaa-cheerleading-provincials for details and a livestream of the ASAA tournament.
