A pair of new cheerleading squads qualify for international competitions
Shine (U12) and Rays (U16) are invited to attend events in Florida in April and May
A cheerleading club in its first year of existence has qualified two youth teams for one of the sport’s biggest events.
Solar Cheerleading has two teams — the Shine (U12) and Rays (U16) — and both have been invited to international events in Florida. The Shine have been invited to the Youth Summit in Tampa from April 24 to 25, while the Rays will attend the Summit Championship 2024 at the Disney World Resort Hotel in Orlando from May 2 to 5.
Kadie Johnson founded Solar Cheerleading in July 2023 and rents space in the Champions Gymnastics facility on Lansdowne Street West. She said her teams are among 45 in Canada selected for the invitation-only events, where they will compete against clubs from around the globe.
“It’s our first year of operation and we’re already receiving international recognition, so it’s really, really exciting,” said Johnson. “It’s a really big deal in the cheerleading community and the competition is broadcast on ESPN.”
The teams qualified through a bid competition March 2-3 in Ottawa, where they were two of five squads selected from 150 vying for entry to the summit.
Johnson was an all-star cheerer growing up in Hamilton. She moved to Peterborough to attend Trent University and competed for the school’s cheer team and then coached it. She also coached cheer at Kawartha Gymnastics before stepping out on her own last year.
“I had a cottage in the area growing up and fell in love with the Kawarthas. When I was picking schools, I had to go here and I just never left,” said Johnson.
She doesn’t want to take too much credit for her team’s success. “Every single practice they show up with a positive mindset and ready to work,” said Johnson. “They’re the ones who want it and they’re the ones who really work for it. All I have to do is put a goal in their head and they push to try to get there. The community we’ve built through our new program is so strong. Everyone is so supportive and do so much for each other. I feel that positive attitude and everyone wanting to push each other up is what pushed the kids.”
Members of the U12 Level 1 team include Zoe Mose, Lucy Kong, Hunter Webb, Cameron Bell, Aubree Burns, Neveah Joseph, Tahlia Larocque and Michaela McGill.
Members of the U16 Level 2 team include Zoe Mose, Tia Auchterloine, Joycelyn Kang, Charlotte Fleming, Emma Van loon, Jilly Deline, Serena, Loughran and Breanne Budnik.