BONNYVILLE – A local cheer team is bringing their basket tosses, cradle catches, and pyramids to the Canadian Cheer Finals.
Bonnyville’s Premier Academy Cheerleading and Tumbling Team Xplosion was one of three groups from Alberta granted a bid for the competition taking place in Niagara Falls, ON on April 5.
The junior level two team, which consists of girls from eight to 14-years-old, received the honour during Cold Snap, a provincial meet held in Edmonton from Jan. 25 to 26.
The Canadian Cheer Finals is an invite-only event for teams of any level. Sqauds can qualify by being among the top groups during competitions throughout the country.
“Cold Snap had three bids for the Canadian Finals,” explained Premier Academy head coach Melissa Kirkendall. “They take the top two scoring groups from each division, and they shortlist it to a total of eight teams. The judges go back and pick the three teams they like the best based on difficulty, execution, and those types of things.”
Team Xplosion was put to the test during two days of competition, and took home the second place banner during Cold Snap. They had a major accomplishment when they hit zero, which means there were no deductions during their routines.
Once their routine was over, the girls were confident they performed well.
“I felt really good about how we did, and I thought we did really good,” said 12-year-old Emmersyn Stybel, who’s a backspot for the team.
Flyer Harper Theroux, 8, agreed, “I knew we were all going to do good, so I knew we were going to get in the top three.”
The fact that Xplosion was picked alongside two teams from Edmonton had their head coach beaming.
“I think it’s big for these girls and for our community to have something this big happen for a little gym from such a small town,” Kirkendall exclaimed.
Team Xplosion wasn’t present to hear the news, but Premier Academy’s Red Deer location was on-hand to accept the honour on their behalf.
“Of course, I got a video from them at 9 p.m. that we got it and I cried,” Kirkendall recalled. “Then, I drove to Edmonton on Monday morning to grab our banner so I could surprise the girls at practice with it.”
When she showed the video to the team and revealed the banner, there were tears of joy from the cheerleaders.
“We weren’t quite sure that we were going to get it, so when we got it we were really happy,” expressed nine-year-old flyer Taylor Davey.
The Canadian Finals aren’t the only competition keeping the squad busy this spring. Xplosion will also be part of the Canadian Cheer All-Star National Championships, which is happening in Niagara Falls from April 4 to 6.
Kirkendall is confident they’ll leave it all on the mat during both events.
“We couldn’t ask anything more from them, and they give it their all every single time they’re at practice. We tell them that you earn trophies at practice, and you pick them up at competitions. They’re an outstanding group of girls, they’re role models for all of our little ones at the gym, and they live up to that expectation of working hard at practice and they earned it.”
Although the prospect of going head-to-head with teams from across the country can be daunting, Xplosion just wants to do their best.
“I would be happy even if we get last place, because we’re all a team and worked really hard for this. I think I would still be really happy,” noted Stybel.
Along with adding more weekly practices, Kirkendall plans to continue to focus on team building.
“It just really helps that they work better together because they’re friends and they want to be here. I think that just coming to grow those bonds with the girls and working hard will help us before the competitions.”
