Ascension Eagles Retain National Titles

Ascension Eagles travelled to Brighton for the Future Cheer National Championships on Sunday, 6th July. After superb performances at London City Airport on the previous day, coach loads of the Ascension teams and fans departed Newham at 5.30am so that their first team could be in warm-up at 7.30am.

Competition ran back-to-back throughout the day, with Ascension’s final team competing 12 hours later.

FutureCheer is the fastest growing British cheer and dance event, with 2379 athletes from 256 teams competing in the sold out capacity-filled Brighton Centre.

All of the judges for this National event are affiliated with the USASF/IASF World Championships, making them some of the most respected people in the worldwide cheer industry.

Ascension Eagles had six entries in this National event, which represents the culmination of their 2007-08 season. AEC Youth Coed, Cheer Extreme, Junior Coed, Senior All Girl, Senior Coed and the AEC Mascot all competed to defend their titles as reigning Champions.

AEC Junior Coed coach Patrick Asante said, “The FutureCheer competition set-up is fantastic, with an amazing backdrop behind the sprung floor in the middle of a packed arena. The atmosphere was very exciting as we were waiting for our teams to go on the floor.

Everyone is friendly and supportive, and there’s respect for each team’s progress and accomplishments. Being a coach, it’s a nerve-wracking time; I knew our members had the talent to deliver a winning performance, but it’s up to them to do it -- not just individually but as one synchronized team.”

Fellow coach Tovonya Raybe agreed, “The standard of all the teams has grown tremendously. Winning is never easy, but now it is not even predictable. In the past, the audience could predict which teams would win, and there was a usually a margin of difference between first and fifth. Now it is so close, that the smallest things will tip the scales. Every fraction of a point counts, and the whole team has to pull together to earn all the points they can during their 180 seconds on the floor. It is an exhilarating sport to be part of and to watch.”

Nationals are always a time when former AEC members return to support the Ascension family. Former AEC England team members Hayley Rivers and Jenna Dawson shared their opinions of AEC’s performances.

Hayley said, “We were so excited to see our AEC family again. The progress this year has been tremendous. As always, Goldstar, Academy Cheer and Team USA were fantastic to watch, and along with AEC they put in top-class professional performances. These world class teams really push each other to raise the overall competition standard.”

When the results were announced, Ascension Eagles won eight trophies, including two Overall Grand Champions, in both the Junior and Senior divisions.

The only British team that beat AEC was Goldstar Twinkles in the Youth Division, against Ascension’s Cheer Extreme.

Ascension’s Senior Coed scored the highest of any British team, with 265. Ascension Eagles Senior Girls scored the highest for an All Girl team, with 260.

Both AEC Senior teams received bids to the 2009 Cheerleading World Championships. World’s bids were also issued to Goldstar Galaxy from Scotland and Academy Cheer from Wales.

Former member Jenna Dawson said, “We are so proud to have been part of such a wonderful program. AEC is made up of an amazing group of individuals who know that perseverance and dedication brings results. Once again, AEC have proven they are the best of British cheerleaders.”

Louise Davis, Ascension’s youth worker said, “When AEC were on the floor competing, there was a tangible sense of pride in their achievements. Knowing of personal struggles and challenges and seeing each person perform, as an expression of who they really are, despite life’s circumstances, is incredibly moving.

This powerful group of young people exemplifies teamwork at its best; they unite their strengths and rise above individual constraints to produce excellent and electrifying performances. AEC is a phenomenal expression of what happens when a program take seriously the challenge of connecting with and working towards transforming communities.”

Ascension Eagles hold their auditions on the second Saturday of every September and accept up to 100 Newham youth annually. Through their London Cheerleading Academy outreach, Ascension works with another 2000 young people annually.

During the 2007-08 season they ran weekly sessions for 34 school and community groups. During August 2008, Ascension are hosting a variety of cheerleading sessions to encourage more people to get involved.

For the first time, they will offer specialty sessions for youth with disabilities, as well as gym-based classes for basic to elite level athletes.

For more information, please email registration@cheerleading-academy.org.uk