CheerCore Jags cheerleaders are putting Collingwood on the map, with a recent first-place finish at the Battle at the Border championship event in Niagara Falls.
The championship event, hosted by Canadian Cheer, took place Jan. 20, with the Collingwood-based elite team coming out on top of the level one under-12 division. There were seven teams from across Ontario that competed in the division.
“We’re in a tough division. Something small going wrong can take you from first to fifth really easily,” said owner and coach Brianne Kocken. “For us, we’ve been fighting hard to go out there and show them what we’re capable of.”
“We were really proud, and the girls were super proud of themselves,” said Kocken.
The Collingwood CheerCore Jags elite team – called Claw – is all Collingwood and area girls between 10 and 12 years old.
Tryouts for the Claw team run in May, and the team trains two to three times per week in preparation for competition. At the competition last weekend, the team prepared a two-and-a-half minute routine that satisfies a score sheet completed by judges including grades for pyramid, tumbles and stunts.
Kocken says the goal for her gym is to “hit zero,” which means the routine is completed with zero deductions for errors.
“They got a zero deduction routine, and we had the highest score in our division,” said Kocken.
“The girls are just so dedicated in wanting to be their best,” she said. “It was a big deal for us.”
Next up for Claw are provincial and national championships in February and April.
“We’re working really hard and hope we can put more zeros on the floor,” said Kocken.
In addition to the elite program, the CheerCore Jags also offer programs for recreational and novice levels.
For more information on the CheerCore Jags, click here.
