Two young athletes from Millbrook South Cavan School have returned from a weekend Cheerleading competition in Ottawa where they faced off against teams from across Canada and some from the US. They are members of a club called Solar Cheerleading, which operates out of Champions Gymnastics on Lansdowne Street West in Cavan Monaghan. It might only be in its second year of operations, but this club has a real impact in the sport. Last year, their two competitive teams were invited to compete at the World Cheerleading Summit in Florida after performing at a National qualifying event in Ottawa.
Cheerleading combines the skills of dancing and gymnastics, and most routines are sprinkled with tumbling and lift moves inserted into energetic dance routines. Solar Cheer offers different levels of programs such as recreational cheer, prep cheer and elite cheer levels, as well as tumbling and ninja warrior classes. Children as young as 3 years old can participate in most of these programs.
Two Millbrook girls, both named Aubree, are members of the U12 group called Shine. With only ten members on this team, they are one of the smaller teams in their age group, but that hasn’t hurt their competitive results. In January, they took second place at a provincial competition in Barrie, and in April they are headed to Niagara Falls to compete in the national competition.
Solar Cheerleading programs are led by experienced coaches, including club manager Kadie Johnson. The 18,000 square foot facility is equipped with a full sized sprung cheerleading floor and two parent viewing areas. Air conditioning keeps the athletes cool during the summer months. The season runs for June until April.
The recreational program segregates entry level athletes by age. Participants in these teams learn basic skills in fun sessions held once a week. These teams showcase their skills in a show at the end of the season.
Members of competitive teams are at least five years old. They practice twice a week and participate in three provincial competitions. These teams are considered stepping-stones for the more disciplined and challenging program found in the Elite program. Elite teams include the most skilled and dedicated cheerleaders who practice three to four hours a week and participate in a team tumbling class throughout the season. They participate in six provincial competitions and if invited, participate in an international competition.
This is the second year of cheerleading for eight year old Aubree Guirey, who loves the combination of skills in the cheerleading program, and particularly enjoys taking the “flyer” role in tumbling stunts where she is lifted and thrown into the air. Last year in one of her first competitions she took first prize in the competitive duos category.
Aubree Burns has been a cheerleader since 2023 and as a member of the Elite team she participated in the international competition in Florida last year. She enjoys stunts, and particularly the “one man” stunt where she is held by outstretched arms by another athlete on the ground.
While both girls are drawn to the energy and skills of the sport, they also enjoy the social aspect of being on a team. Aubree Guirey enthusiastically describes a practise called “pinning”. Club members decorate wooden clothes pins with paint, images and encouraging messages that are surreptitiously attached to backpacks, clothing or even ponytails to send messages of support to competitors from other teams. These hand-made trinkets are collected by the recipients as reminders of the mutual respect and admiration of their fellow athletes.
To learn more about this club, visit www.solarcheerleading.ca. KG