YORKTON — The Grid Iron cheer team out of Yorkton is working hard to be ready for an upcoming international competition in Seattle.
Coach Jennifer Ingham said the team boasts 14 athletes between the ages of 12 and 16. The competition is Feb. 21 and 22, 2026, and will feature teams from Canada and the U.S.
"It’s a newer event,” said Ingham. “They’ve only run a couple of years in this facility. I’ve gone to some different professional development conferences, I’ve met some other teams that are going, and I’ve met one of the ladies who is a brand ambassador for them, so we just wanted to try it out.”
The timing was great, too, she said, because it happens during the winter break.
Grid Iron is a Level 3 team and part of Gridders’ Cheerleading, a youth sport organization that she said has 150 athletes between its competitive and recreation programs.
Gridders Cheerleading is no stranger to travel. Last year the club’s U12 Level 1 team went to a competition in Las Vegas. Athletes have also been to Hawaii and Minneapolis, and they have even been to a world championship event in Orlando.
“It’s a lot of work to put together a routine to compete on the international floor, so we don’t necessarily do it [travel] every year, so we’re trying to do it every second year,” she said.
The club is working hard as the competition approaches, she said. They selected athletes who have the necessary skill level to be competitive. This is a tough time to prepare, she said, because a lot of things are happening before Christmas, but they are confident that in the new year, they can go full out to be ready.
Some fundraising is already underway, she said, thanks to the support of a parent committee. Each of the athletes going to Seattle is being highlighted on their Instagram account, and each athlete has a sponsor who is helping to send them on the trip.
A 50-50 draw has also happened to help pay for the trip, she said.
The estimated cost is $1,500 per athlete, Ingham said. Some are fundraising more than others, but Grid Iron is trying to cover the costs of registration and part of the travel expense.
Club members practise twice a week, and starting in the new year, Ingham said they will be meeting on the weekend to ensure they are ready for the Seattle competition. Gridders Cheerleading has a showcase at the end of January when all of the clubs perform for their families.
“It’s like a dress rehearsal to put a bit of pressure on them and get them used to performing,” said Ingham.
Grid Iron will also compete at the Best of the West competition in Moose Jaw, giving them another chance to prepare for the competition.
“We’ll use some feedback from the judges there to make some changes to our routine, if necessary, so that we can maximize on the scoresheet when we get down to the states,” she said.
