The captain of four-time Cheer champions Cyrens writes about the team’s record-breaking year.

By ONG WEI LEE

THE Cyrens and Rayvens cheerleading teams from SM Sri Kuala Lumpur have been striving hard for the past year. Cyrens were crowned champions for the third time in a row at the Cheer 2012 finals, and the pressure was on for the team to live up to expectations.

We had a one-week break after Cheer 2012 before heading straight back into training. We had four sessions a week, sometimes five. It was an arduous journey. All the hours of strength work, stamina training and stunt work would boil down to just two routines, two-and-a-half minutes each.

We also had to endure countless obstacles throughout the journey to Cheer 2013. But we never let any of it bring us down. We found alternatives, and learnt to adapt quickly.

Injuries are very common in cheerleading, as they are in every other sport. Safety measures are always taken, but accidents unfortunately still happen.

But instead of letting them bring us down, the team fought even harder for our injured teammates. We had to make changes to our routine just three days before the finals, but the team showed their remarkable fighting spirit and teamwork to pull through that hardship.

The Cheer 2013 finals was the time for us and all the other cheerleaders in the country to show what we’ve been working so hard for over the past year. We would only have two chances to prove ourselves, to execute the routine we had spent so many months practising.

The pressure was immense, but we managed to hold our nerves, executing perfect routines on both days of the finals.

Then came the moment of truth. The SCARS (Sri KL Cyrens and Rayvens Supporters) had already won the best supporters award, and our sister team the Rayvens won the inaugural All-Girls Junior Division. But the biggest question of the day was whether the Cyrens would be able to defend their national championship title for the fourth time in a row.

The cheerleaders, supporters, teachers and parents all went wild as soon as the final result was announced – the Cyrens were champions once again. We were overwhelmed with tears of joy, knowing that all our hard work had paid off.

The atmosphere at school the following day was amazing. The whole school was proud that we were champions again.

But the assembly was the moment we were all really waiting for, because everyone was eager to know whether the school would announce a special holiday as it did for the past two years.

As expected, our principal declared a holiday for the school to celebrate the Cyrens, Rayvens and SCARS’ wins at Cheer 2013. The news made everyone ecstatic. In fact, that holiday is today!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the school for being so supportive towards cheerleading. Without it, the cheerleaders of SM Sri Kuala Lumpur would never have made it this far. It was the school, our coaches, our parents, our supporters and our spirit and teamwork that all helped to make this happen.

Cheer 2013 was not just an event to showcase the cheerleaders’ talent and athleticism, but also an event to show our school spirit. It was one of the few chances for the whole school to come together as one. We all showed how united the school was, which is, I believe, what sets SM Sri Kuala Lumpur apart from other schools.

ONG WEI LEE is the captain of the Cyrens, champions of the Cheer 2013 All-Girl Division. Cheer 2013 was organised by R.AGE and presented by MARIGOLD HL Low Fat Milk. Silkygirl was the main sponsor and Sugus was the co-sponsor. Red FM was the official radio station.