It was a weekend of success and shock for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack cheerleading teams.

Both of their squads came away with big honors at the annual True North Cheerleading competition held in Edmonton, Alberta.   As well, Team Black is coming home with a 'Full Paid' Bid to an international event next January to be held in Florida.   Team Orange captured an "At Large" bid.

"We are in shock.  Everyone is in shock,' say co head coaches Mikayla Levy and Meaghan Blakely. "This is the first year we have had two competitive teams, alongside the first year competing at the Premier Level (the highest division in University Cheer). Just competing in these divisions this year was a major accomplishment and never in our wildest dreams did we picture taking home a bid. Even more than that, a Full Paid bid AND an At Large bid."

The first day saw Team Orange executing their routine without any deductions.  Team Black had a major fall deduction. On day two, TeamOrange had multiple deductions while Team Black executed their routine without any penalties.

The coaches explain what a  'full paid' and 'at large' bid entails.  "Paid bids are awarded to the best teams in one or more of the Worlds Divisions at The Cheerleading Worlds qualifying events. Each event producer hosting a Worlds bid-qualifying event has the discretion to select the divisions and determine the process by which bids are awarded. $650 + tax USD times the number of athletes on the floor where the bid was awarded, plus two coaches. For example, our Team Black who received a Full Paid Bid, had 15 athletes on the floor plus 2 Coaches, will be awarded up to $11,050 + tax USD. This amount will be used towards the team's World's accommodation packages and registration package to Orlando. Additional expenses incurred will be the responsibility of the team/gym. At-large bids are generally awarded to runner-up teams or the next highest scoring teams to the paid bid-winning team(s).However, each event producer that hosts a Worlds bid-qualifying event has the discretion to select the divisions and determine the process by which the bids are awarded. Recipients of at-large bids are eligible to compete at Worlds; however they must pay for their own Worlds accommodation packages and all other related expenses. Event producers should publish the procedures they will follow for awarding bids prior to the start of their qualifying competition. An event producer may not award more than one bid and/or type of bid to the same team."
 
The coaches go onto say, "This program has excelled every year and their hard work has paid off. We will be attending the ICU University World Cheerleading Championships in January 2020 at the ESPN World Of Sports in Orlando Florida USA, the most elite competition for cheerleading in the World. We wanted to recognize and thank the Alberta Cheer Association and True North Championships for this opportunity. We also want to thank the WolfPack Athletic Department, Thompson Rivers University,  Kamloops Gymnastics Trampoline Centre,all of our sponsors, Nikki and Pete Parrotta of Okanagan Firestorm, David Liska of Perfect Storm Athletics, Friends, Family, and Alumni for their continual support."
 
The coaching staff plans to meet in the next few days to discuss numbers of athletes for their January event and how to proceed with fund raising for the remaining costs.   They will also be creating a 'Worlds Committee' to help with organizing logistics. The full paid bid covers only accommodation and registration for Team Black, but the team is responsible for their own travel and expenses. Team Orange will be responsible for all travel and expense of the competition.