The Uneventful Life of Charley T : Celtics Cheerleaders compete at Future Cheer

Ready to hit the floor

Future Cheer hosts the biggest University competition in Europe and on the 24^th February both Leeds Celtics Cheerleading teams travelled to Loughborough to compete and represent Leeds University. For those of you who have never visited a cheer comp it really is like Bring It On! With Squads from across the country competing in different divisions and all wanting that Grand Champ trophy.

A sea of Cheerleaders

It was a long day starting with a 6am bus journey from Leeds. The All Girl team were to compete twice in the morning with Co-ed following with two performances in the afternoon. Ready and raring to go they took to the floor in front of the judges at half nine. Throughout the routine bases were throwing high and strong, flyers were hitting their stunts and some brilliant cheer faces were out on show for everyone to see. For many on the All Girl squad this was their first cheer competition but this fact was not obvious during any part of their routine as they put on a performance to be envied by some of the cheer veterans from other Universities. Their second performance was no different and they blew the spectators and the judges away.

Celtics All Girl lib sequence

The girls had worked hard in the run up to these comps and it has been very clear to many on the Co-ed team the close bond the girls have formed.

Some of Celtics All Girl squad

With many Celtics thinking 'maybe they forgot to say our name.'

For a new team to rank in the top 20 out of a division of 24 would have been amazing but as the announcer passed the 20 mark and Celtics had not been called out it became very realistic that All Girl could place in the top ten. As the rankings edged closer to the top 3 places everybody in the sports hall sat with bated breath with many Celtics thinking ‘maybe they forgot to say our name.’

Third place was called and the tension grew.

Had All Girl placed second?

For many on the team to place in the top 10 would have been an amazing achievement but first place had only seemed like a far fetched dream.

Finally it was announced that they had placed first in a division of 24! What an amazing achievement for a squad in its second year. They put on an amazing performance and truly deserved their trophy. The team has grown so much since last year with returning Cheerleaders emphasising how well the squad has adapted to and worked with the new girls. It really is inspirational and proves the true spirit of cheerleading, you work unbelievably hard as a team in the run up to a competition and then give it your all for those 2 and a half minutes on the floor.

Celtics All Girl over the moon about their win

Speaking of the win Holly Bird, an All Girl cheerleader, said ‘when I realised we came first I was so shocked but really ecstatic!!’

Many of the Celtics Cheerleaders praised the support from the other Leeds teams, Carnegie (Leeds Met Uni) and Titans (Leeds Trinity Uni). Historically Leeds Met and Leeds Uni are big rivals especially when it comes to sports, with a day every year devoted entirely to a Leeds Varsity. Yet despite all this rivalry the Cheerleading squads supported each other. All three teams are trained by Aviator Allstars coaches so that creates a bond between the squads but it is also due to a mutual respect that the Cheerleaders have for each other and knowing that having people cheering for you from the crowd can vastly improve your performance.

Carnegie Cheerleaders in action.

The spirit from all of the Leeds teams was amazing and you could feel that everyone was genuinely happy for the other squads and where they placed with one Titan even crying with joy when it was announced that Celtics All Girl squad had placed first.

Some of Celtics Co-ed squad

All Girl set the standard very high for the Co-ed team. With Co-ed walking away with first place and the Grand Champ trophies last year all eyes were bound to be glued to this years Co-ed routine. They took to the floor at half five and after a first routine that wasn’t of the highest Celtics standard everyone was pumped up and ready to hit it on the next one. They pulled off a level four routine with some amazing stunts, a highlight being the pyramid that hit perfectly. Flyers and bases were on top form and basket tosses were high and tight. The squad really pulled together and worked as a team to create and amazing performance.

Celtics Co-ed pyramid

Co-ed is made of Cheerleaders with some amazing talent especially when it comes to tumbling and everyone pulled off an amazing performance which allowed them to maintain their champion status as they again won first place. They really did show everyone why they are reigning champions.

Celtics Co-ed basket toss

Alex Harrison described the win as being ‘awesome’ and ‘like a pie but with less pastry and more trophies’.

Celtics Co-ed after placing first

The whole day was a massive success for Leeds Celtics (and Leeds in general with Carnegie also placing first in their division). Everyone is excited to represent the University again at the next competition which will be in Blackpool on the 9^th March.

A massive thank you to the coaches Tim, Rachel, Kelly and Tats!!