Abbotsford’s ACE Allstars cheerleading team won the grand champion award at a recent competition in Anaheim, Calif.
The local club’s senior team led the way at the Sharp International meet, winning gold in their division.
Additionally, ACE’s five-member team in the mini division (age 3-7) took second place, and the club also had a series of strong finishes in the stunt group and individual skill events.
Add it all up, and the Abbotsford club earned first place overall in the all-star division, which is for non-school teams.
Head coach Angela LaPlante was particularly pleased with the performance of the senior team, which featured 13 athletes ranging in age from 10 to 18.
“We came together in January and had to fundraise and train like crazy,” she said.
“We had quite a mix of abilities as well as ages, and as a choreographer, I started with only one trained flyer – the person who goes in the air and does all the tricks – and I needed at least three. So two kids with no previous experience in that part of our sport stepped up and learned how to fly, and they did well enough that we won.
“It was really exciting.”
