Thousands converge on Warman, Sask. for Cheer Classic

(Carla Shynkaruk/CTV News)

The population of Warman doubled over the weekend as thousands of athletes and spectators converged on the city for the Warman Cheer Classic.

“Cheer is a lot more than just waving pompoms and cheering on the sidelines at football games. You get to throw people in the air, and it’s super fun,” Warman Ultimate Cheerleading member Sophia Perepelkin told CTV News on Saturday.

Charlotte Tataryn, one of the competitors from the Regina Boss Athletics club, has been in cheer for six years. She looks forward to this competition but admits it’s a bit scary to get up in front of such a large crowd.

Five thousand spectators filled the seats throughout the weekend and watched some of the best competitors in the country, some earning spots in international competitions.

“It’s not just about tumbling and stuff because you have to work really hard to get a good place in the competition,” she said.

The energy at the event was electric, with 3,500 competitors and coaches from across Canada taking part in the three-day event, including some international hopefuls.

The event, which marked its 18th year, is one of the largest competitions in Western Canada for the sport of cheer.

Four hundred volunteers came together to pull the event off each year, relying on support from the community of Warman.

“It’s our volunteers and our community that make it happen, to be honest. They just do such a good job of making sure everyone is safe and having a good time,” organizer Leslie Anderson told CTV News.

Anderson has been involved since the first year and says the biggest challenge is ensuring it’s rewarding for the competitors and spectators involved.

“Just working to make sure that everyone’s experience is the same and that it’s a great, fun day,” Anderson said.

The competition continued on Sunday at the Warman Home Centre Communiplex.