Cheerleaders take Pressure to Nationals

TWENTY-four Ballarat performers made the Australian All-Star Cheerleading Federation National Championships more gleeful last weekend.

Delacombe’s Pressure Cheer and Dance was represented by junior, senior and open teams of athletes between the ages of seven and 30 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

In the presence of over 12,000 competitors, Pressure Cheer and Dance owner, Tara Schmidt said the weekend was a success.

“Our Juniors came 19th and they were five points behind first. Our Seniors came ninth out of 20, only three points behind first, and our Opens came sixth out of sixth, only five points behind first,” she said.

“Our Opens and Seniors both got no deductions. In cheerleading, hitting zero is a big deal.

“You get deductions if a stunt falls, if a flyer is caught incorrectly… or another good example is when someone does a forward roll and touches the floor to stand up.”

Performing in front of more people than ever, Ms Schmidt said it was “scary” at times.

“You want so much for your athletes to do a good job, but you know that those nerves are going to get to them because they get to you even as a coach,” she said.

But her favourite thing about “cheer” is that it caters to all abilities.

“There are sections for people with special needs, right through to Masters with people who are fifty-plus. It makes it so much more inclusive,” Ms Schmidt said. “It’s not about that first-place trophy, it’s about doing the best you can with a smile on your face.”