Revelstoke Secondary School was mostly empty when I showed up last Monday. Most students had gone, except for a few dozen in the gym.
At one end, two track and field athletes were working on their high jump ahead of last week’s provincial championships. At the other, 20 girls, mostly from grades 8–10 were in the midst of their second ever cheerleading practice.
They were gathered in groups of five. One girl was in the middle, while the other four stood around. They were practicing a basic lift, whether the four girls would lift up the one, who then stand proudly, her hands spread out in triumph above.
“I got up with no hands,” one girl squealed after a particularly smooth lift.
This being only the second practice, most lifts weren’t so smooth, but they were getting there.
The cheerleading squad started after a group of grade nine students approached teacher Nicole McKenzie about sponsoring a team. McKenzie agreed, and she enlisted the help of gymnastics coach Jill Drake and dance instructor Glynis Wearing to help out.
The RSS cheerleading squad practices their dance routine to Rihanna’s “Who’s That Chick”. Photo by Alex Cooper/Revelstoke Times Review
There were 20 girls at practice. “We definitely have enough interest,” McKenzie told me while the girls practiced. “One practice we started the dance routine and we started this.”
In addition to the lifts, the squad also practiced a dance routine, complete with pom-poms. They plan on performing at Begbie View Elementary this Friday, June 7, and at Columbia Park Elementary next Friday, June 14.
They plan on cheering at school sports games and they also want to take part in community events. “We’re going to go into the Canada Day parade and do some cheers as we’re walking down,” said McKenzie.
Next year, they want to enter B-division competitions and, if interest holds, eventually the goal is to move up to the very competitive senior division.
