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By Courtney Almeida

Local team to compete on world cheerleading stage

Feb 24, 2019 | 6:00 AM

Grande Prairie’s Gymniks All-Stars Code Teal Cheerleading Team will be sending 19 athletes to Orlando, Florida this spring to compete against the best of the best on the world cheerleading stage.

The Gymniks were invited to compete at “The Summit”, held annually in Florida, after earning a bid at the “PAC Battle of Champions” in Calgary, which is the only competition in Alberta that can award bids.

The Grande Prairie Gymniks have been in the area for almost 10 years and Code Teal Team is an International Junior Level 2 team. They are one of two gymnastics teams in the Swan City and the first team from Northern Alberta to ever win a bid to “The Summit”.

“Seeing that a team from Grande Prairie can go that far, and actually get a Summit bid, that’s a huge deal,” says Lindsay Morrison, Coach and Program Coordinator for the Gymniks.

“Hopefully, people will see, and it will bring more attention to cheerleading in our area and it will just continue to bring some more people into the sport.”

“Cheerleading Worlds”, a competition for older divisions, will be held at the same location in Orlando, Florida the week before. “The Summit”, competition is of the same level of importance. Code Teal will get the opportunity to compete to be the World Champions of their division.

“It’s really exciting. It’s such a great opportunity for our kids, our families, and of course our gym as well. We’re just over the moon excited for the opportunity to get to go and compete on one of the most exclusive stages in cheerleading.”

The Gymniks have various gymnastics teams, with athletes ranging from age five to 16, in their competitive programs. Code Teal Team athletes range in age from 10 to 16 years old.

Gymniks competitive cheerleading teams train for 10 months out of the year. They spend the first half of their season learning the team’s routine and the second half in competing in competitions. Routines feature a combination of dance choreography, acrobatic stunts and tumbling.

So far this year, Code Teal has only competed twice. They won first place in their division at a competition in Edmonton before earning their bid to “The Summit”.

Later this year, Code Teal will compete at another International competition, “The American Showcase”, taking place in Anaheim, California.

Due to the high cost needed to perform at these competitions, mostly due to travel, Code Teal will be doing various local fundraisers to assist their athletes.

“It is extremely expensive. The closest competitions we ever have are in Edmonton,” said Morrison. “Summit is very expensive, especially, because it is international.”

The competition in California will mean that the team will have two back-to-back international competitions within one month of each other.

Morrison notes, “…You can see how that would be extremely costly.”

“…Right now, our families are planning to do some fundraising. They have a Pub Night on March 30th, that’s at the Lions Den. They’re doing some bottle drives and just trying to get as much fundraising done as we possibly can do.”

Additionally, the team is also looking for a team or individual athlete sponsorships.

Anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to visit the Gymniks website.

by Courtney Almeida