Hat cheerleading teams compete in Edmonton
Local cheerleading teams wrapped up their competitive seasons in Edmonton over the weekend at the All-Star Cheer Extravaganza, each overcoming adversity to put up big scores.
Both the Stingerz and Ultimate Cheer Fusion had multiple teams at the event, though they only competed head-to-head in one division. In the 10- to 18-year-old senior 2B group, it was pretty much a dead heat although the Stingerz’ Queen Beez did take third with 92.50 points, while UCF’s Ignite were fourth with 92.20. Edmonton’s Typhoons won the seventeam group — one of six in the age division — with 94.30 points.
But it was how the two teams got to their big scores that they’ll remember. A Thursday night injury forced the Queen Beez to adjust their program at the last minute, while the Ignite girls had learned a brand new routine in a matter of just three practices. Neither of them wound up with any deductions.
“We gathered the girls early and these amazing athletes adjusted to the changes and though their nerves were frazzled finished the season by (taking no deductions),” wrote Stingerz coach Debbie Schultz in an email to the News.
Stingerz’ Honey Beez — also affected by Thursday’s injury — won their junior 2B group with a 91.60-point score when Edmonton’s Cyclones took a huge 2.25-point deduction that dropped them from first to third. Clean performances were the trend for both Gas City clubs in the threeday event.
Ultimate Cheer Fusion tied Prince Albert’s Cheer Explosion for first in the 3-5year-old tiny novice group with 51.40 points. The Sparkle team took a first-place result at every one of their five competitions this season.
The Stingerz club won the four-team mini prep A division, their Royal Beez scoring 70.40 points. Their Bumble Beez won the youth prep A with 69.95 points, less than a half point better than a Sherwood Park-based team.
UCF’s Glimmer team was third out of four teams in their 5- and 6year-old group, putting up 79.85 points. Glow, UCF’s 7- and 8-year-old team, scored 80.60 points to take fourth in their eightteam division, with first and last place separated by a scant 3.75 points.
Up against some of the topscoring teams of the weekend, the UCF Nitro team’s 88.20point effort put them last in the five-team group.
Both clubs are now preparing for next season’s registrations. Ultimate Cheer Fusion is winding down with a season finale event this Saturday from 1-6 p.m. at their Brier Park Dr. location ($3 admission).