‘I’m still in shock’: Regina cheer team reacts to world championship

It was a day Ainsley Remple and Jaylen Nurse will never forget.

On Monday, the two were named world champions along with the other members of Regina’s Rebel Cheerleading Athletics cheer team, Smoke.

“It’s a pretty indescribable feeling,” Remple said Tuesday. “I’m still in shock; it’s very surreal. Obviously, that was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a once-in-a-lifetime feeling. There was so much great competition and I will never forget that moment.

“I have a great team and a great coach and I’m just glad I got to experience it with those people. When it came down to the last three (teams), I just remember I was with my teammates and thinking, ‘No way.’ We were up against some great competition and it didn’t sink in until they announced our team name.

“I was on stage with my team so it came down to the last two teams and we all sat in a circle. It was announced over the scream and we had a few minutes to jump around, cry (and) get excited. (There were) a lot of cheers and a lot of hugs and a lot of congratulations.”

Nurse said it was the culmination of years of hard work.

“It was so insane. We all knew we had it in us and we just had to come together as a team and just do our best and leave everything we had on the mat and that’s what we did,” Nurse said.

“My heart dropped and it was the most exciting feeling I’ve ever felt before. Just looking out into the crowd and seeing everyone cheering, it’s the most exhilarating feeling you could ever possibly feel.”

The team became the first from Saskatchewan to win the Cheerleading Worlds tournament, which took place in Orlando, Fla.

“When we first got there, it was a little intimidating but it was such a supportive environment. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and we were all just there to do what we all love to do,” Remple said. “It was such a positive experience. The diversity and all the teams from around the world were all so amazing and it was incredible.”

With the Regina gym finding success on the world stage, the two hope it leads to the sport growing in the province.

“Talking to other people in the States when I came to Orlando and talking to locals about cheerleading, people seemed more familiar with cheerleading down here in the States,” Remple said. “When I talk about it with people in Canada and Saskatchewan, it’s definitely not as familiar.

“I think it’s pretty safe to say that the majority of people, when they hear cheerleading they think high kicks, pom-poms, ‘Go team!’ but that’s certainly not the case. Competitive cheerleading is an intense sport that really tests your physical capabilities.”

Her teammate agreed.

“I really think that it shows it doesn’t matter where you’re from and no matter how small the town is or how tiny the gym is, anything is possible,” Nurse said. “Talent doesn’t come from a big place (and) it doesn’t come from a certain gym. It can happen anywhere.”