Hey guys,
CFHTT have gone all the way up north and Middlesbrough to Teesside university to talk to Emma about what it like being Teesside Wildcats
Tell us about Teesside Wildcats cheer history.”
The team was officially formed in 2003/4 as a side-line cheer team. They first competed in 2004 and could barely stunt! Since then the team have competed regularly and over the years have competed at levels 1-4 cheer.
At Teesside University is your cheerleading team consider a sport or a society?
Our team is considered a sport.
You have a very striking uniform who came up with the design. Thank you!
Our current uniform was designed by Allstar Nation, but we do have some very exciting things regarding uniform for the new season which I can’t go into too much detail about yet…
Do you get any support from your university?
Yes! The student’s union are fully behind us. They give us a certain amount of funding every term depending on the team’s requirements. The new club membership also includes insurance, travel to competitions, a branded team jacket, and discounts in the SU for food and drink.
That great !
“How many teams do you have and what does each team do?”
We only have one team due to the club size, but we also give the option to join stunt groups.
How many hour a week do you train
Our normal times are between 5-6 hours spread over 3 sessions, however in the run up to competitions this could probably double! No amount of training is ever too much!
What was your biggest achievement last season?
The Wildcat’s really prevailed at comp last year! Both stunt and team worked equally as hard and we never fell below the top 3, which is amazing when you think some if the people on our team have never done cheer in their lives. However, I think the team’s real achievement is the unbreakable friendships it forms. I came out of last year knowing I had a friend in every single member of my team and I have no doubt everyone else feels the same.
How do you decide what competition you are going to attend?
Our coach Rachel tends to make a list of what she thinks would be good for the team and we discuss it together. Which ones would be the most fun and easiest to get to, those sorts of things.
“What was your favourite cheerleading competition of the past season?”
I always love Legacy! It’s the first comp of the season for us and it really is a landmark for a lot of new members as their first cheer comp ever. That’s such a special thing to do as a team.
Does your team do other things apart from compete?
The team love getting involved in charitable work with themed training sessions. A good example is our “all pink everything” session with bake sale to raise money for breast cancer awareness month. We also dressed in rainbow colours for LGBTQ+ awareness, and we took part in a charity netball game dressed as dominoes. Coming up this month we’ll be cheering on the competitors at the Great North Run while supporting the teenage cancer trust. Also, sometimes we provide half time entertainment for on campus basketball games.
What are your goals for this season To improve on tumbling!
I think tumbling is one of the most difficult and scariest aspects of cheer to learn, I’m speaking from personal experience as I haven’t mastered anything much further than a forward roll! But as a team I think that’s something we need to take time on.
Team commitment is always something that’s difficult too, just because being a university team you have deadlines to compete with, but we like to ensure that our members know cheer isn’t something to stress over, it’s fun and if anything should be used as a break from studying.
It’s that time of year where you guys will be recruiting what you are looking for from student?
I think the biggest thing that makes a team member is the ability to push yourself. As I’ve said a lot of our team have never done competitive cheer before and cheer isn’t a sport that comes easily, it takes effort. We love it when members are in it for the long haul and are willing to do the best for the team not just themselves.
Why should people join your team?”
Because I have never met a more supportive team. All I can think is back to my first session, I joined half way through the year, I had no experience and yet I felt supported to try everything and encouraged to come back again. Not to mention it’s fun, we like making competitions out of conditioning so it’s not so much of a chore.
“What useful skills has cheerleading taught you?”
I think cheer can teach you how to truly be part of a team, because all the time you’re looking out for others rather than yourself.
“Are there any transferable skills that you have learnt from cheer that you can use later in life?”
Cheer definitely makes your confidence grow, there’s no way you can hit the mat and be shy about it, and I’d like to think people utilise their new found confidence for their futures, for job interviews as an example.
What would your lives be without cheer?
Boring! Before I joined cheer, I was mostly sat at home just gaining fresher’s weight. Cheer has made my life so much better because now I have something to look forward to three times a week where I can relax, be myself and meet some amazing people!
“Do you guys use social media platforms?” Yes, we do!
Facebook: Teesside Wildcats Cheerleading
Instagram: @teessidewildcatscheer
Twitter: @WildcatsTees
Our social media accounts help the team to stay connected with upcoming events, comps and socials. Make sure to give us a follow to see what comps we’ll be attending, and what achievements the teams making.
“Is there any other information you would like to share with CFHTT?” I have some fun facts about the team:
- In 2009 the team had more male than female athletes, but since then the numbers have gone down and we struggle to recruit men.
- 6 ex wildcats have all competed at World’s!
- In 2005/6 our PORNAR award was created. Every year at our end of year team meal this award if given out for outstanding achievement.
Lastly what is your favourite UK Cheer team (apart from your team) and your favourite International cheer team and why?
Seeing as though we have quite a few current and ex-Wildcats on several UK teams those are obviously our favourites! Aviator Allstars, Rising Stars and Hartlepool Hawks to name a few.
Cheer Starz Academy who have some extremely talented cheerleaders and coaches (especially Rachel and Nate who also happen to coach Wildcats).
As far aa international goes were a big fan of Top Gun, is it any wonder why? There amazing!
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