Three cheers for pressure performers

PRESSURE Cheerleading and Dance athletes have come away from the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation State Championships with gold, silver, bronze and beyond.

Eight teams from the Delacombe club took part in the two-day comp at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre earlier this month, all performing routines for a maximum two-and-a-half minutes.

In non-tumble cheerleading, Pressure’s Loreto College team in high school level one, and their Sovereign team in the adult level one took first place, having showcased stunts, jumps and dancing. Junior cheerleading team Crush, and adult hip-hop team Rush placed second.

Director Tara Schmidt said her athletes put on their best performances of the year.

“Our teams all worked really hard to perfect their routines in the weeks leading up to the competition, and to get there, so we were very grateful to walk away with our placings,” she said.

“We came home with more trophies than we’d ever won before in total. It’s a nice feeling for the girls to walk back into the gym and know that they’ve earnt those.

“When we got the scores back and saw how close we were in comparison to the other teams, it reinforced that we’re doing well.”

Senior level two cheerleaders Rebellion, and open novice jazz team Quartz placed third. In the open novice lyrical, Quartz also received a fourth place, and in adult pom, Rush placed sixth.

With Pressure members aged between nine and 39 involved, Ms Schmidt said they supported one another when it was their time to shine.

“It’s nice to sit back and watch them cheer on each other,” she said.

About 430 teams and 3500 from more than 50 Victorian clubs took part in the AASCF State Championships. Teams Crush and Rebellion are now rehearsing for nationals on the Gold Coast.

Pressure Cheerleading and Dance opened in 2019 and enrolments have grown by three hundred per cent within three years. Visit pressurecheerleadingballarat.com.au for more information.