The atmosphere was electric at the seventh annual EPC Cheerfest at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex last Saturday.
The Rotary Fieldhouse was filled with raucous cheer fans and 20 talented teams from around the province. With teams from Whispering Hills Primary School, Landing Trail Intermediate School and Edwin Parr Composite taking part in the event, local fans had lots to cheer about.
All of the amazingly skilled athletes received their well-deserved recognition throughout the afternoon, from the spectators, fellow cheerleaders and the judges.
The LTIS Grade 4 team was named the most enthusiastic team at the event. EPC’s Junior High Division Three team won first place, as did the Senior High coed team. EPC’s Junior Division One team also claimed the top spot in their division. In Elementary Division Two, LTIS Grade 4 was second to their Grade 5/6 counterparts. And in Elementary Division One, the WHPS team was first.
A number of local teams also qualified to represent their zone at the upcoming Alberta Cheerleading Association Provincial Championships, including EPC Junior Division Three, EPC Junior Division One and Senior High coed.
With so many local teams taking home hardware (and punching their tickets for provincial competition), the locals in the crowd went home happy, and the coaches were very proud of their teams.
“They wanted to show the town what they’ve really been working on. They wanted to make them proud,” said coach Holly Williamson of her EPC Junior Division One team. “(Being at Cheerfest) means a lot to them. They’ve worked really hard.”
The EPC senior high team also received kudos from their coaches, Vanessa Olson and Heidi Rice.
“We’re super impressed with our team for going out there and giving it their best,” said Olson. “They went out and gave it their all in their home community.”
Like Williamson, Olson believed the team wanted to showcase the results of all their long hours of practice.
“They showed everyone what they’ve worked so hard for. To do it at home puts smiles on their faces,” she said.
WHPS coach Wanda Semashkewich was also thrilled with the performance of her team of young cheerleaders.
“They did awesome. It’s all about having fun and that’s what they did,” she said.
“For their first performance I couldn’t have asked for better.”
Recent graduates from the WHPS team are key components of the LTIS Grade 4 team, and their coach Cassie Knisley was equally pleased.
“I’m so proud of them. They’ve improved so much,” she said.
Event organizer Barb Lachance had her hands full with the running of the show, but she also coached the LTIS 5/6 and EPC Junior Division Three teams to impressive results.
“LTIS did great, their timing was phenomenal. (And) EPC was really good,” she said, noting that the latter team greatly improved on their performance from just a week earlier at the Cold Snap Classic.
Other awards of note included ‘most heart’ (Father Mecredi), sportsmanship (GH Primeau) and the coveted Spirit Stick (GH Primeau).
