Local cheer squad makes history

BELLEFONTE — A local All Star cheerleading team has become the first-ever Pennsylvania team in its division to earn a full paid bid to the 2018 Cheerleading Worlds competition — a competition many refer to as the “Super Bowl” of cheerleading, according to Superstar Athletics owner and coach T.J. Banas.

The team from Superstar Athletics will compete at the invitation-only international competition held in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, April 28, through Monday, April 30. According to Banas, the team, consisting of 15 athletes ranging in age from 15 to 28, is one of only 10 paid bid recipients from the Small International Level 5 Coed division.

Banas said the team has been training since May 2017, has won two national championships and earned its full paid bid by beating out every Level 5 coed team that competed in the Mid-Atlantic Championships held in Wildwood, N.J., last month. He said that while the team’s full paid bid covers the team’s lodging, registration fees and passes to the Disney parks, any additional trip expenses will be covered by their sponsor, the Varsity Cheer brand. 

‘We look forward to not only representing the biggest brand in all of All Star cheerleading, but also representing the Central PA area as the only team to achieve this accomplishment from our town,” said Banas. “We hope that by putting on a great performance, we can continue to grow the sport of cheer in Centre County as well as show that even small gyms can achieve big dreams.”

Banas said the team has been preparing hard for the worlds competition for the past six weeks.

“One thing we always strive for at Superstar Athletics is to help each and every athlete reach their full potential,” said Banas. “So we have already begun restructuring our routine to better prepare each and every athlete to maximize their full potential and help the team to hit a routine that reaches the highest ranges on the more difficult worlds score sheet.”

Before the team heads to Orlando, Superstar Athletics will host their end-of-the-season showcase Sunday, April 22, at the gym, located at 270 E. Rolling Ridge Drive in Bellefonte. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and the performance will begin at 4 p.m.