Sask. team wins gold at cheerleading world championship
A cheer workforce in Saskatchewan has made historical past by changing into world champions.
Rebels Cheerleading Athletics’ (RCA) workforce Smoke — which relies in Regina — received the Worldwide Open Degree 5 division on the Cheerleading Worlds in Orlando, Fla., on Monday, beating out 26 different groups within the division.
It is the primary time a workforce from Saskatchewan has received gold at Cheerleading Worlds — a match that pulls greater than 9,000 cheerleaders from 40 international locations, in line with its web site.
Eric Bestvater, head coach of Smoke and proprietor of RCA, stated it was a lifelong dream come true.
“It was very surreal,” he advised CBC Radio’s The Morning Version.
“It is the head of our sport, and to have a workforce that was in a position to come and compete and take house the gold was unbelievable.”
The Regina Rebels ‘Smoke’ cheerleading workforce positioned primary on the world championship competitors in Orlando, Florida this week 1:47
He stated the workforce had its fair proportion of challenges main as much as the match.
Like many different athletes and groups, in-person coaching turned extra difficult as a result of pandemic. Bestvater stated that at one level, they may solely have a sure variety of athletes within the facility on the similar time, which means the workforce could not all prepare collectively.
On prime of that, Bestvater stated that they had some accidents to take care of.
Nonetheless, he stated these challenges weren’t sufficient to discourage the workforce.
“We have had a lot of issues we have needed to overcome, and thru all of it they only actually got here collectively as a gaggle,” he stated.
“They’re like my second household. They only actually bonded after which stored pushing and pushing and have been in a position to get right here and do what they did.”
The Morning Version – Sask5:53Sask. cheer workforce wins world championship for first time ever
A Regina cheer workforce has made historical past. The Rebels Cheerleading Athletics’ cheer workforce Smoke received first place at Cheerleading Worlds. We’ll hear from some teammates and the coach about how they did it and what the win would possibly imply for the game. 5:53
Venice Mitchell, 15, and Cassandra Moyer, 16, are workforce members and have every been a part of RCA for greater than 5 years.
“It is by no means simple getting so far. Each workforce has its struggles, however the bond that we created was very useful to assist us overcome any challenges that got here our method,” stated Mitchell.
“When it got here all the way down to it, we got here collectively and we pulled it off, so I could not be extra pleased with my teammates.”
Moyer had an identical sentiment, saying she feels “actually pleased with our complete workforce as a result of we actually got here collectively and labored onerous and we actually achieved one thing really superb collectively.”
“We’re like a household. That is like one of the simplest ways to explain it.”
Bestvater stated unity was a significant component within the workforce’s success.
He stated this group is “in all probability the closest workforce that I’ve ever had the chance to work with. They’re simply so uniquely supportive of one another.”
“This yr they actually had one another’s again and actually form of labored collectively as a unit, and I believe that is what gave us the sting that we wanted.”
Bringing recognition to the game
All three of them stated they need the championship win to convey extra recognition and appreciation for the game of cheerleading.
“I really feel like cheer does not actually get the popularity it deserves,” stated Moyer.
Not solely does she need cheerleading to get extra respect, however she additionally desires different younger individuals to have the prospect to “discover the game and fall in love with it, similar to I did.”
Mitchel, in the meantime, stated she hopes the historic win will assist make clear how cheerleading can convey individuals collectively.
“Perhaps we will get some extra individuals simply actually discovering out what cheerleading actually is and creating some extra friendships alongside the way in which.”
Consistent with the theme of unity, Bestvater additionally stated he hopes the championship will convey extra publicity to cheerleading and the relationships it creates.
“It is simply such an incredible sport and one the place these athletes — each female and male — type a very robust bond with one another,” he stated.
“It is actually the workforce sport of all workforce sports activities, in my view.”
