Cheers to competing again

MADDY Theobald is thrilled to be back competing in the sport she loves.

On Sunday, 28 March, Theobald competed with her team Lady Reign at The Spirit of AASCF, coming in first place.

The competition was the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation’s first physical competition since 2019.

Theobald said the team, which hadn’t competed in 481 days, had been itching to get back on the floor.

“It definitely made us really appreciate our sport a little bit more,” she said.

“Not being out there for so long and then going back out there and having that awesome experience and coming away feeling incredible.”

“We had lost majority of our routine fitness, it was a quick comp prep, it was a little bit rushed, but we got out there and hit a zero which is what everyone wants to do.”

Bendigo local Theobald has been cheerleading for 14 years and has been travelling to Melbourne three times a week for the past six years to train and compete with Southern Cross Cheer.

Lady Reign has competed in the Cheerleading World Championships in Orlando, Florida twice, placing seventh in 2017 and fifth in 2019.

With last year’s event cancelled, the team has been training online, keeping their bodies and minds fit and healthy.

As well as training and competing, Theobald also coaches the Melbourne University cheerleading team, who also placed first in their division at the competition.

“I really hit the jackpot with them they’re a great bunch of kids and I couldn’t be happier with them.”