Cheerleading is making its debut in Portage thanks to a new partnership between the Portage Gymnastics Club and Cheer Manitoba, and the community has responded with overwhelming enthusiasm.
Kristen Nicoll, President of the Portage Gymnastics Club, confirmed the initiative after receiving multiple inquiries from families about the sport.
"We didn't form a new committee, but within the Portage Gymnastics Club, I'm the president and I have been in contact with Cheer Manitoba," said Nicoll. "They said that they get a ton of inquiries about cheer in the area and asked if we'd be interested in starting a program ourselves."
The result is a trial year of cheer programming for U8 and U12 teams, with training and support provided by Cheer Manitoba. Nicoll and her team, including several coaches currently completing their Level 1 cheer certifications, are working to bring the sport to life locally.
So far, the community has shown strong interest. "We filled within about the first five minutes for our U12 team and then had a waitlist of five kids," Nicoll shared. "At this point, we've been able to accommodate our waitlist kids, so we do have a team of 20."
While the U12 group is full, there are still a few spots open in the U8 category. To introduce even more youth to the sport, the club is hosting a 'Try Cheer for Free' day on August 23. The event, in collaboration with Cheer Manitoba, will offer hands-on sessions with certified coaches from Winnipeg. The morning will be devoted to coach training, followed by cheer sessions for both age groups in the afternoon.
"Cheer Manitoba is partnering with us and offering this session. They've got some coaches coming out from the city, and we'll be doing a U8 and U12 try cheer for free," said Nicoll. "We just started advertising that one, so there's still availability."
Nicoll also noted that a local athlete who currently cheers in Winnipeg is joining the team in Portage to help coach both gymnastics and cheerleading. "She's doing her coaching levels for both, which is amazing," Nicoll said. "It's so nice to see sports collaborate and bring more opportunities to town because not everybody can travel."
This expansion into cheerleading is just the latest success for the Portage Gymnastics Club, which continues to thrive.
"The club is doing awesome as usual," said Nicoll. "We have filled and got a few spots in our classes. The registration was very well received again this year."
Although the club is navigating a transition with many new coaches, they are investing heavily in training and certification.
"We're heavy into the training and the Respect in Sport and all the necessary things," she said. "The coaches are excited to bring in the new program."
A large portion of the club’s coaching staff consists of former athletes who return to give back to the program.
"It's amazing that we can keep our kids in our club, even if it's just in a coaching capacity," said Nicoll. "It really is a sense of community within the club."
For families interested in trying cheer, registration for the August 23 'Try Cheer for Free' event is now open.
"You can send an email to portagegymnastics@hotmail.com or register right through our website at portagegymnastics.wordpress.com," Nicoll said. "No payment is necessary, just registration info for liability."
As the club looks to the future, Nicoll said they’re excited to keep growing and exploring new partnerships. “At this point, we’re just excited for the opportunity to try something new.”
