This year’s Edwin Parr Composite Cheerfest was bigger and better than ever.
Over 1,400 spectators and 23 cheer teams from across the province poured into the Athabasca Regional Multiplex on Saturday for the annual event, and nobody who was inside the facility’s fieldhouse that afternoon will soon forget the experience.
Cheerleaders of different ages performed incredible feats of daring and athleticism to the astonishment of the assembled judges and spectators, as the raucous cheering of the crowd nearly drowned out the music and sound effects emanating from the loud speakers.
Though the cheer teams were competing against each other, friendship, mutual respect and admiration permeated the atmosphere as cheerleaders lined the sidelines to cheer on their fellow competitors, chanting, whistling and hollering at every opportunity.
Not to be outdone, the crowd of spectators was rarely silent, even during the brief periods between performances.
Five local teams took part in the event; one from Whispering Hills Primary School, two from Landing Trail Intermediate School and two more from Edwin Parr Composite. And none of them left the multiplex empty-handed.
The WHPS squad was first in elementary Division 1 while LTIS Grade 4 was second and LTIS Grades 5/6 were first in elementary Division 2, respectively.
The EPC junior team was first in their division and the senior team was second in theirs. Both qualified to compete at their respective provincial competitions later this month.
All the local teams, as well as their competitors, had practiced for months in preparation for their short time in the spotlight on Saturday.
“It takes a lot of work, in practice and at home by ourselves,” said EPC senior cheerleader Tasha Lapshinoff, who probably had the youngest fan in the house on her side in the form of her eight-month old daughter Ava.
“Every competition, you get nervous. But it’s exciting,” she added.
Event organizer Barb Lachance was exhausted at the end of the day, but thrilled to see all her hard work — and that of the many skilled athletes — rewarded with a wonderful event.
“It shows the community what cheerleading is all about,” she said. “It’s phenomenal.”
