Airdrie is going to experience a first when the cheerleading provincials visit to be hosted by the George McDougall Mustang's cheer team.

 On April 12 and 13, cheer teams from all over Alberta will have a chance to compete.

Liese Reichert, head coach of the Mustang Cheerleaders, says that they're excited for the event to arrive

"We're really lucky because there are no other teams in our division in all of southern Alberta so we get a free card to go to provincials," says Reichert. "We practice three times a week. One day a week is our game day team, and two days a week are our cheer team."

"We've been working since Septemeber for this goal and it's even more important for provincials for us this year because we are hosting them, so we're on our home turf."

Reichert describes the cheer competitions as looking very different from other sporting events.

"It doesn't look very many sporting competitions. First of all, we'll have about 15 to 20 different teams from around Alberta. We all compete at the same time in four different divisions. It's really different, instead of having teams going in and out, they play a game, and then leave and then they come back a few hours later, you have two hours of high energy (with) lots of athletes cheering each other on, trying to be first in the province. It's just a high energy, super, super fun (events). Probably one the most supportive sports of the opposing teams you will ever (see)."

On the cheer squad, there are 16 members and on the game day squad there are 20, and Reichert says every single member has to work hard.

"It takes hard work, dedication, being enthusiastic, loving your school and really being able to be a team player."

Reichert herself is very excited for the provincials to be hosted in Airdrie.

"I think the thing I'm most excited about is that, for the first time ever, we are showcasing our sport in our home town. There are only two high school teams in all of southern Alberta, and when I say south, I mean south of Edmonton. No one at our school has actually seen our competitions, so this is a time to really show our community what a great sport this is and really how talented our team is."

Danielle Edwards, cheer co-captain, says that cheerleading is a lot of work.

"Cheerleaders are incredibly hard working. We put a lot of effort into everything we do. We have to be really coordinated and really good as a unit and as a team."

Edwards has been working hard to improve her own abilities so the team can get better.

"I've been working on bettering my jumps so that, as a team, I can help other girls. I work a lot on memorizing the counts inside, outside, and backwards, and knowing what to do in the routine."

Milena Garza,  the other cheer co-captain, says cheerleading takes time and dedication.

"It takes a lot of dedication and time out of your personal life, there's not a lot of time to do much else besides practice," comments Garza. "Personally, I've been practising a lot with my dance moves because I'm not very choreographed like that, so it takes a lot more for me"

Garza says she's excited to not have to travel for this competition.

"I'm really excited for it to be at home so I don't have to drive a couple of hours to go compete. Also, seeing a lot of my old cheerleading friends."

 

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