The Estevan Comprehensive School's cheerleading team is the provincial champ, after winning the senior small division.
For the squad of 22 students, 15 of whom compete, this is a welcome end to a season that started in August when the team began training together. At least once a week the group got together for practices.
Coach Bonnie Chepil-Kvamme said there is a lot of dedication required from her students and before competitions the team would undergo practices of five hours or more.
"This is the first time in 19 years of me coaching that we've ever won three competitions," said Chepil-Kvamme.
Winning the other two competitions launched them into a position to compete at provincials.
"That dedication has to be there, the loyalty and the physical fitness of it all, because it's very athletic. It's throwing. It's catching. It's not dancing. So a lot of dedication (is necessary)."
She said the team suffered a number of injuries that set the team back at times.
The team is young. Chepil-Kvamme said it's split with a lot of senior students and a lot of ninth graders.
"I went in this year with no expectations because a large portion of my group is brand new. They've never competed. They've never seen a competition floor. They're in Grade 9. So they just went out and pulled it every time. The level of athleticism is ridiculous on this team this year."
That athleticism gave them a definite advantage over some other squads at the competitions. About half the team will be leaving this year as seniors, but she has a good base of students.
"Next year might be a rebuilding year, but this year was a rebuilding year too. Until I see the dynamic of the team, I can't really predict anything (for next year)."
Coaching for so long, Chepil-Kvamme has seen how cheerleading has changed over the past two decades.
"The stunts just keep getting bigger and more complicated. It's moving in a different direction."
She noted there is also a cheerleading executive that never existed before. It's been around now for about five years, and Chepil-Kvamme has served on the executive board for three.
The growth of cheerleading across the country is increasing, and as a result the competitions keep getting larger. Teams from Alberta and Manitoba will compete at the meet in Regina.
"Compared to when we hosted provincials four or five years ago, the athletes have doubled."
More schools are attending, but schools also send more than one team to competitions.
Because of their placement at provincials, the ECS cheerleading squad has the opportunity to bid on attending a competition in Florida in February 2012.
