It proved to be a breakthrough weekend for Panther Cheer at the recent Cheerfest Championships in Abbotsford.
For the first time ever, the club’s Adult (17 and over) International Open Level 6 team has qualified for the USASF Cheerleading World Championships. This event takes place every two years at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
The Abbotsford competition was one of just two in B.C. that is sanctioned by the USASF in order to qualify for the Worlds. There were three spots in Orlando on the line and Panther Cheer finished second. They were the only team to successfully execute two clean routines with zero reductions.
The Panther Cheer team features young women ranging from 17 to 28 years of age.
“We are so very excited to have this group of young women (aged 17-28) represent Panther Cheer as our first team at Worlds, a tradition we hope to make an annual one moving forward!” said coach Stephanie Kennedy. “What makes this even more special is that out of this team of 13 athletes, seven of them are staff members who coach our younger athletes in the gym.”
“They are all tremendous role models who have demonstrated how hard work, tenacity, team work and a belief in themselves can take them to the very top in
the sport of all star cheerleading! So many of the athletes and their parents were right there, at the front of the floor to cheer them on and witness the awards ceremony and all the tears of joy that were shed.”
It was part of a very successful weekend in Abbotsford with all Panther Cheer entries finishing in the top three of their categories. The results included the Youth Level 1 and 2 teams winning their respective divisions. The Junior Level 3 team did the same and also won the coveted Grand Champions Award for the top score among all Level 3 teams.
