By Hayley Derwort
Winners are grinners – Casey Overton and Cherise Greaux kiss their trophy.
The sport of cheerleading isn’t just about pom poms and sparkly costumes – over the last decade it has become a bona fide, high intensity activity for serious competitors with rumours it may become part of the Olympics.
Forrestfield cheerleader Casey Overton, 22, has been performing for Fit 2 Cheer since she was ten years old.
“I fell in love with the sport and ten years later I’m still here today,” Miss Overton said.
Her team, the Angels, won a bid to compete in the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation (AASCF) National Cheer and Dance Championships at the State Series on October 5.
Coach Dominique Allis says she couldn’t be prouder of her girls and their hard work.
“We’ve improved so, so much,” Miss Allis said.
“Our synchronisation is so strong.”
The AASCF Nationals will be held in a four weeks and in order to win a World bid to represent Australia for dance the Angels must win their division.
“That’s our goal but hopefully we can get there,” Miss Overton said.
The competition is shaping up to be a fierce one with teams all around Australia practising and perfecting their routines for competition weekend, the 27th to the 29th November.
Coach Allis told Bounce News that what separates a team can be their originality, their synchronisation and their degree-of-difficulty.
“It can come down to judging a lot of the time, sometimes there can be a point or two between teams,” Miss Allis said.
But for Miss Overton, who has represented Australia at the World Cheerleading Championships, it’s exciting to have another chance to compete on the world dance stage.
“I can’t wait!” she said.
See the video below for a look inside the Angels’ training:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS2Zwugzv_U]