The Peak Elite Cheerleading U12 Level 1 Elite division Yetis won first place at the national Cheer for the Cure competition in Oshawa, Ontario, December 3 and 4, 2022. (Photo: SmugMug / Peak Elite Cheerleading)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge cheerleaders win gold and silver at national competition

Dec 9, 2022 | 10:57 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Two Lethbridge cheerleading troupes are returning home after a successful trip to eastern Canada.

Peak Elite Cheerleading sent its U12 Level 1 Elite division Yetis and U16 Level 2 Elite division K2 cheerleaders to the Cheer for the Cure competition in Oshawa, Ontario on December 3 and 4, 2022.

It was the only club from Alberta to compete.

The U12 team placed first out of 12 teams in the division and won the judge’s choice award for all of Level 1.

Head Coach Samantha Paradee says her team members were born for the sport.

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“They have such incredible body awareness and mental tenacity for children their age. I would take this team around the world,” says Paradee.

The younger squad includes cheerleaders between the ages of nine and 12, about half of whom have been cheerleading for less than two years.

She believes that it has been remarkable to see how far they have come in such a short time.

“They are the type of kids that, if you correct them, you only correct them once. They are that driven and motivated to be better,” says Paradee.

The U12 team cheered to a mix of pop songs, including The Climb by Miley Cyrus. Paradee told LNN that this song was symbolic of the journey they have taken so far and how they are always striving to improve.

The U16 squad finished in second place in their events.

Paradee says she is incredibly proud of both teams.

They have been training since May and have been practicing their routines for the last three months.

Cheer for the Cure is an annual competition that also raises money for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Although an official fundraising total has not been released, Paradee says she has heard that more than $20,000 will be given to the organization.

Use the following links to watch the performances by the U12 Yetis and the U16 K2 teams.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now