From appearing on STV News, to being crowned champions of the nation-wide Voxi short-film competition, to being featured on the internationally recognised website HuffPost – it’s safe to say GCU Wolves Cheerleading have had an extremely busy year.
The 70-member strong group has more than doubled in size since the previous academic session, but their quest to become the most widely-recognised university cheerleading club in Scotland doesn’t stop there.
For the first time in their history, the team’s been divided into three squads: a recreational club- which anyone is welcome to join- and two competitive groups, pom and stunt.
With their focus shifting from dancing in displays to performing competitively, it’s clear the girls have a taste for success, which was born from their first national competitive gig in March 2018.
Alongside Strathclyde University, GCU Wolves Cheer co-hosted the inaugural Scottish University Cheerleading Championships (SUCC), which seen over 200 athletes take to the floor to compete in a range of different disciplines.
Despite making their competitive debut while juggling the responsibility of co-running the event, Wolves made a substantial impression on the judging panel, claiming second place in their division.
However the road to SUCC was stressful and exhausting- no means made easier by the infamous Beast from the East, which attacked the majority of Scotland with gale force winds and heavy snow on the eve of the Championships.
The extreme weather was a substantial blow to the hard work of both Wolves and their Strathclyde co-hosts and, eventually, the decision was made on the morning of the competition to cancel the event and reschedule to a later date.
The heavy conditions didn’t stop the aptly named Wolves, though.
Several members of the team threw on their uniforms and ventured into the snow to practice their leaps, jumps and kicks, stopping at nothing to try and help lift the spirits of those who were heartbroken over SUCC’s postponement.
The girls’ efforts were not unnoticed, attracting the attention of national and international media alike. Their tweets, videos and posts went viral, charming audiences worldwide with their commitment to their sport.
The good news didn’t stop there – just two weeks later, SUCC was rescheduled and was a roaring success. GCU Wolves Cheer stamped their mark on what’s now an annual event, leaving their legacy on what’s expected to be one of the largest student-run sporting events in Scotland.
Their competitive streak didn’t stall there, however, and since March the team’s worked profusely to ensure their performance levels grow week by week.
The girls are gearing up for their competitive UK debuts in February at the renowned Future Cheer championships in Manchester, followed by the BCA Scottish Sensations competition the following week and SUCC shortly after.
Not only that, but they have a host of displays to look forward to, cheering on a number GCU’s sports teams and performing at a long list of events.
Working closely with their sponsors Distrikt nightclub, the team’s been given the opportunity to update their uniforms and training facilities, ensuring every member gets the safest, most rewarding experience from their time on the squad.
Not only that, but the team’s thrived from welcoming its most diverse squad yet, encouraging both international and Scottish students to try their hand at high-kicks and handstands.
But the hard work of GCU Wolves Cheerleading extends further than perfecting routines and cheering on others.
With president Helena Arthur at the realm, the team and its committee are pushing for the national recognition as a university sport and not simply a club.
As it stands, the governing body for the sport in higher education- British Universities and College Sport (BUCS) – doesn’t recognise cheerleading in its members, depriving hundreds of athletes across the UK the opportunity to further develop their skills.
GCU Wolves Cheer are on a mission to overcome the stigma surrounded with being a cheerleader.
By creating events such as SUCC and promoting themselves as a sport for everyone, Wolves are adamant on changes the face of university sport not just in Scotland, but across the UK.
To stay up-to-date with the team, follow them on Instagram @gcuwolvescheer or like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GCUCheer.
The Feature Image is from the GCU Wolves Facebook Page
