IT’S an annual tradition with Cheer, and it’s probably one of the few things the cheerleaders involved don’t really enjoy doing – the returning of the Champions’ trophy.
Every year, about a couple of months before the Cheer finals, the defending champions are asked to return their trophy in a ceremony to announce that the competition is back on.
And last week, that was exactly what the Cyrens from SM Sri Kuala Lumpur, Subang Jaya and the Mickeymitez from SMK Damansara Jaya, PJ (overall champions and Co-Ed Division champions respectively) had to go through - returning their trophies, and at the same time marking the launch of Cheer 2012.
“It’s so sad!
It was in our school’s trophy cabinet and seeing it there always brought back so many fond memories.
We recalled all the hard work we put in,” said Amanda Lim, current Cyrens captain and part of the remarkable Cheer 2011 championship-winning team.
Defending champions team Cyrens from SM Sri Kuala Lumpur were ecstatic with their win at Cheer 2011.
Not only did the Cyrens make it two championships in a row when they won last year, they also helped their school achieve an historic feat - they were the first school to take both first and second place at a Cheer finals.
The Cyrens’ junior team, the Rayvens, newly-formed at the time, gave their seniors a run for their money, finishing as runners-up ahead of some of the more established teams.
But sad as the Cyrens were to return their trophy, Amanda also sounded a warning to their rivals – the Cyrens are hungry to win it back.
“We want that hat-trick. We want to be the first Cheer team to win three titles in a row. We want to make history,” said Amanda, adding that several members from last year’s Rayvens squad are now with the Cyrens.
“All of us have been training since August. We took one week off after Cheer 2011, and after that it was straight back to training.”
The Mickeymitez also created their bit of history last year when they became the inaugural champions of the new Co-Ed Division for boys teams, and captain Jake Lim, 17, realises it’s going to be a tough task retaining their title.
Defending Cheer champions the Cyrens and Mickeymitez said they were sad to return their trophies ahead of this year’s competition. It didn’t really show, though.
“We know we’ll have to fight to get our trophy back,” said Jake.
“The other teams are desperate to take that title from us, because it’s something to be really proud of. Winning at Cheer takes a lot of hard work.”
So for all you cheerleaders and cheerleading fans out there, the trophies have been returned, and the champions have thrown down the gauntlet.
Cheer is now officially on!
Time to get loud!
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