Exploits Extreme Cheerleading gives gold-worthy provincial performances

Local cheer teams proved hard work and dedication pays off during a recent provincial competition.

Exploits Extreme Cheerleading, with its home base in Grand Falls-Windsor, is owned and coached by Meg Reeves, Shauna Guy and Jess Kenny. They have two competitive teams and one rec team this season.

The competitive teams — Heartthrob, a Prep U12 Level 1 team consisting of 17 athletes and Smokeshow, a U17 Level 2 team consisting of 22 athletes — travelled to St. John’s for the NLCA Provincial Championships at the end of April and came home with awards.

The championships is hosted by volunteers who show support and encouragement to all the Newfoundland and Labrador cheerleading teams, both scholastic and allstar, the coaches say, and the venue was packed with spectators.

It takes a full season, which started last August, to prepare for a competition. The athletes need to build strength and endurance to execute a two-minute-and-30-second high-intensity routine. During the beginning of the season, athletes are working drills and focusing on stretching and conditioning. As the season progresses, they begin to work on stunt sequences and establish stunt groups. Reeves choreographs all Exploits Extreme routines, teaching each athlete their role in the routine.

They jokingly established April as “cheer month” as both teams had a lot of extra practice time, even until 10 p.m. on a Friday night.

“They never once complained that they had to give up their weekend or that they had early morning practices during Easter break,” Guy says. “Our program has been blessed with some amazing parent supporters. They have gone above and beyond for their athletes, the team and our program. Some of our athletes travel up to an hour just to cheer with Exploits Extreme. They have been great to work with and we are grateful for their time and efforts.”

“It was an incredible feeling to watch our athletes compete and perform for the judges,” Reeves adds.

“The feeling of competing in person is indescribable. The fact that we’ve finally accomplished what we have been working all season for. The moment they walk off the mat knowing that they gave it 100 per cent makes us, as coaches, incredibly proud.”

During the awards ceremony, each team sits in a circle and holds hands with their teammates as they announce the team placements, the coaches explain. They start with last place and work their way up to awarding the firstplace team.

“When our athletes were announced as winners, they jumped to their feet and wrapped their arms around as many teammates as they could,” Reeves says. “The feeling is proud but grateful. It’s accomplished, yet still motivating. It’s not for the title, banner or medal. It’s for your teammates, your coaches and your supporters. It’s what you’ve spent countless hours every day working for.”

Both the athletes and coaches are impressed by the successes achieved at the competition.

Heartthrob, a brand-new team whose athletes all took the floor for the very first time, won first place in their division. Annika Cutting was recognized as Heartthrobs MVP for her hard work and positive attitude.

Smokeshow really stole the show, winning first place in their division, as well as All-Star Youth/Junior Grand Champions, All-Star Max

Out, and All-Star Choreography Award. Blake Power was awarded Smokeshow’s MVP for his role as a mentor and strong asset to the team. He also won a $1,000 scholarship for postsecondary education.

“We could not be more proud of both teams this season,” Guy says. “These athletes have shown to be resilient while navigating COVID, shutdowns and ever-changing mandates. They have put in the work and pushed their limits to perform a routine that was gold-medal worthy. We, as coaches, know the amount of time and dedication these athletes have put in this season and it is nice to have them recognized on a provincial level.”

Due to COVID, the coaches have seen the effects of athletes not being able to compete in front of a live audience. Their season four competitions were all virtual and it wasn’t the same. The athletes had a hard time getting into performance mode and there was not the same level of excitement. This year was the first time many of their athletes competed live.

All the athletes, parents and coaches stayed together at the same hotel the night before competition. They attended a practice at Coastal Wave Elite, had a team-bonding pool party and gathered to exchange good luck letters and gave out good luck charms.

“The relationships, memories and community built during the weekend is unforgettable regardless of how they place,” Guy says. “Saturday, all the athletes got ready together then spent the day at the arena supporting all the cheerleading teams as they awaited their turn to compete. The energy was phenomenal as the athletes were bursting with excitement.”