‘We’ve been waiting so long’
Truro hosts first unmodified cheer competition in the Maritimes since COVID
“We’re just really happy to be here.”
Kelly Andrews Halifax Cheer Elite coach
TRURO - The first unmodified cheer competition in the Maritimes since COVID was a momentous event for glammed up athletes in Truro with spectators back to cheer them on.
At the Rath Eastlink Community Centre, 1,200 athletes across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick competed and displayed their strength and skill on March 26 and 27.
“We’re just really happy to be here,” said Halifax Cheer Elite coach Kelly Andrews. “Like we keep telling the kids, just enjoy every moment because we’ve been waiting so long for this. We’re just focused on having a good time.”
Truro All-stars, which had 74 participating athletes, hosted the event.
“It’s just like a really chill vibe today,” said Truro coach
Mary Gonzales. “Teams are just happy to be on the floor in front of people, right, because it’s been virtual all last year.”
They will continue their season at Cheer Blast and Maritime Meltdown in Halifax and the provincials in Bridgewater.
Last season there was a restricted competition. Otherwise, events were mostly virtual. Having the crowd made a huge difference in the atmosphere.
“The kids have been doing what (they) can to get through COVID,” said Gonzales.
Although restrictions have been lifted, the pandemic still affects practices and competitions.
“It’s been pretty stressful because of COVID,” said Andrews. “Sometimes, we’ll have athletes out for a week of isolation. So we have to be pretty flexible when we’re practising and expect that … if one person’s not there, we can’t really do everything.”
Masks are no longer mandatory, which was a safety issue with spotting during tumbling because sometimes they would go over the eyes.
There were 105 teams competing across 14 programs. Some teams also qualified for worlds, held in Orlando, Fla. Awards were presented.
Parking was a problem as the lot overflowed – some vehicles got stuck while parking on the lawn and had to be towed, while others parked further up Abenaki Road and by Dollarama.