One of New Brunswick’s largest cheerleading organizations took home big wins on the international stage.
Sky Athletics recently won three titles at the 2023 Open Orlando event in Florida held on April 29 and 30.
The Level 1 team Blaze and Level 2 team Hail were named champions in their respective divisions.
Team Blaze was also named grand champions, having the highest score of the entire competition.
“It was an incredible experience,” Helena Woodley, co-owner of Sky Athletics, said in an interview.
“We worked really hard all year. All of our athletes put in lots and lots of hours at the gym.”
About 25 athletes from Sky Athletics took part in the event, which featured around 160 teams from around the world.
Woodley said a lot of work went into preparing their teams to participate in the international event.
“They practiced all year long, sometimes once a week, sometimes extra practices throughout the week. They have choreography sessions, they do skills clinics,” she said.
The teams also competed in a number of local and virtual competitions ahead of the Open Orlando event.
Woodley said she hopes the success from this year will bring attention to their program so it can keep growing.
“We’re hoping that other athletes who are aspiring to do the same — to travel, to compete at big competitions — will want to participate as well so that they can do similar things,” she said.