鈥淐heerleading has been a passion since the day I started. I have so many amazing memories as an athlete and as a coach. Cheer gave me so much confidence and I can鈥檛 wait to join the U of S Cheer team in the fall.鈥�
Kjersti Graupe, coach at Cheer Legacy in North Battleford, is the recipient of the 2020 Leadership Scholarship awarded by the Saskatchewan Cheerleading Association (SCA). Kjersti is a Grade 12 student and she is accepted to the University of Saskatchewan in September of 2020 to pursue a degree in kinesiology.
Kjersti started her athlete career in gymnastics at age 7. At age 14, Kjersti started at Cheer Legacy in North Battleford.听 Although gymnastics is an ideal sport background for cheerleading, there was a steep learning curve for Kjersti to learn stunting and the demands of group choreography in cheer. Her first year鈥檚 team was Junior Level 2, Majesty.听
The 2017-2018 season was a highlight in Kjersti鈥檚 athlete career because Cheer Legacy put together a Level 5 co-ed team with hopes of winning a bid to Cheerleading Worlds in Orlando, Florida. Kjersti worked extra hard and made the team as one its youngest members. And, the dream came true.听 Cheer Legacy 鈥淒ynasty鈥� team won their bid and the team competed in Florida in April 2018.
In September 2018, Kjersti achieved her Level 1 and 2 cheerleading coaching certification and was immediately hired as a coach for Cheer Legacy. Kjersti was also an athlete on the Senior Level 3 team, Reign. In addition to hours spent at the gym, she still found time to pursue voice lessons and volunteer at her family鈥檚 parish, the Zion Lutheran Church.
Knowing that 2019-2020 would be her last year at her home gym, she was all in coaching three teams and also an athlete on Senior Level 4 鈥淩eign.鈥澨� Including tumbling, coaching, and team practices, this was 14-15 hours a week at the gym. Kjersti was also a substitute coach, covering for her colleagues as needed.
This award is a $500 scholarship sponsored by the Saskatchewan Cheerleading Association, the province鈥檚 sport governing body.听
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