For any athlete, it is always amazing to achieve recognition at the national and international scale.
This is true for both Taylor Elmy and Taryn Moffat, members of the University of Regina cheerleading team, who recently were ranked third overall at the 2016 ICU World University Cheerleading Competition in Florida.
The ICU World University Cheerleading Championship attracts 200 of the current top university teams in the world and almost 4,000 athletes.
“Our team competed in one of the new divisions at the World University Cheerleading Competition. In total, there were eight countries, and 35 to 40 teams in all the divisions who were competing,” said Thomas Ruth, coach of the University of Regina cheerleading team.
He said that each team was ranked by their scores, and overall the University of Regina cheerleading team (which was representing Canada) had claimed third place.
The United States team won first and the Puerto Rico team claimed second.
The University of Regina cheerleading team had qualified to represent Canada after claiming first place at the national co-ed tournament in December.
“Definitely, winning the national tournament was a successful moment for our team,” said Ruth.
He said that while competing at both the national tournament, and then during the world tournament, that the cheerleading team had very clean and consistent routines that contributed to their achievements.
“There were very minimal errors during our competitions.”
Ruth noted that each member of the cheerleading team has a strong dedication and passion to the team. “Every single one of them pushes and pushes 100 per cent during practice to ensure that our competition routines are clean and consistent.”
The coach noted that both Taylor Elmy and Taryn Moffat play a very key role with the cheerleading team. “They have a very critical role as back spot members of the team.”
“They have good power that help in our pyramids and tosses. They truly contributed in every aspect of practice and competition.”
For a few members of the University of Regina cheerleading team, there will be opportunities to highlight their skills and dedication once again.
It was announced that cheerleading members Kristen Tam, Tiffani Tam, Brooklyn Gorski, alumni Hannah Langton and Mitch Toupin and lastly RCA athlete Jordan Osborn were named to Team Canada Cheerleading 2016. These selected members will be representing both the all-girl and co-ed teams at the ICU Worlds in Orlando, Florida in April.
Plus, the whole team is already back in training for a couple of upcoming tournaments. They will compete in a three-weekend “cheerleading blitz” in roughly a month.
“We have a competition in Edmonton in March, then are hosting our own competition on Saturday, March 12, and then head to the provincial tournament the following weekend.”
“The whole team is working hard to make our routines and our competition pieces that were displayed during the nationals and the world tournaments are even more impressive for these upcoming tournaments,” said Ruth.
