Four Westlake students – Macy Vaudry, Cheyenne Spencer, Leah Richmond and Yuzu Akiyama – have been selected for the New Zealand Cheerleading Team.
The team of 20 will be competing in the Cheerleading Worlds and the International Cheer Union Championship, held virtually in September (Covid allowing). These two competitions are the highest ranked competitions for Cheerleading in the World and are equivalent to the Olympics.
Trials were held in 2019 for Worlds in May in 2020, which were sadly cancelled because of Covid. Athletes then had to retrial in 2020 for Worlds in September this year. New Zealand will have 2 teams, ALL Girl and CoEd team (guys and girls) which compete in different divisions. The teams age in range from 14 years up to about 35.
There will be a boot camp in September. Representing New Zealand is a huge achievement and we are excited to see how the the team competes.
Here the students talk about their time cheerleading and what they love about it
Macy Vaudrey (pictured above in a flip on the right)
How long have you been a cheerleader?
I have been a cheerleader for almost 6 years. I started when I saw a friend doing cheer and thought it looked fun. I didn’t expect it to become so big.
What do you love most about it?
I love getting to train with such amazing talented people who are so supportive of everyone. I also love the feeling after hitting a great routine and representing New Zealand – it makes me feel proud.
What club do you perform with?
All Star New Zealand. I am in Team NZ CoEd, and my club teams are Legends and Royalty.
What sort of training are you now needing to do to get ready?
At the moment we train 3 times a week plus we take a tumble class we do 30 minutes of strength and conditioning with personal trainer.
Tell us about being part of Team NZ in the American national cheerleading competition
The USA national event was a couple of months ago and we were in the international open coed Division. We won gold. It was such a great experience but was quite tough on everyone as we had a very short time frame to get our routine perfect and submit our video on time. It was super rushed as we got a late entry into the competition and it took a lot of extra training but was so worth it in the end when we won.
Yuzu Akiyama
How long have you been a cheerleader?
This is my 9th or 10th year as a cheerleader
What do you love most about it?
The family you build with the people and the unconditional trust with your teammates
What club do you perform with?
All star.
What sort of training are you now needing to do to get ready
I train twice a week for club and once a week for Team NZ – a total of 9 hours. Plus, we also put in work outside of training whenever and however we can, to be better for our the team, since we have to motivate ourselves more than ever this year because we are not travelling.
September is the toughest because we go into Boot Camp where we train Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm.
Tell us about being part of Team NZ in the American national cheerleading competition.
This is my second year being in Team NZ and competing (first time being in 2018, getting a bronze and silver). I just love meeting other people we never really see from other clubs from our country and creating this mutual bond through our struggles and pain. Putting our bodies through a lot is hard, but having people who want it as much as you do is where our chosen family vibe comes from. Because of these opportunities you watch yourselves push eac hother past impossible limits and watch everyone at their worst and best, it’s a raw experience where you find your real friends.
Leah Richmond
How long have you been a cheerleader?
I have been a cheerleader for 11 years, started at the age of 4
What do you love most about it?
There are many things I love about cheerleading but not only the actual sport and the stunting, but also the people. Everyone is so loving and kind they are all a family if not more. The environment is so positive and uplifting all the time which is just another reason why I love cheerleading – and of course stunting and tumbling that brings me joy.
What club do you perform with?
I preform and train with All Star Legacy Cheerleaders but there is also many other gyms located around NZ depending on where you are located. Team NZ trials are held every year at the All Star Legacy Cheersport gym. I’ve trialed every since I was old enough and been lucky enough to have made it every year. I was selected after the trials of stunting, tumbling and a dance choreography too.
What sort of training are you now needing to do to get ready?
We do what are called “full outs” this is when you do everything full out, all tumble skills, all stunting ablities, motions all the way through until the end. This may seem easy to thoes who do not participate in cheerleading but the fitness and talent it requirers is absolutely crazy.
Tell us a bit about being part of Team NZ in the American national cheerleading competition.
It was amazing to be apart of a competition that is exclusive, the training was hard as we didn’t have much time to practice but we worked hard out days on end for hours but seeing the results and knowing it was the first online comps that NZ has ever competed in.
Cheyenne Spencer
How long have you been a cheerleader?
This will be my 6th year doing it
What do you love most about it?
The friendships I have made and the competitions we do, especially the feeling of running onto the stage with my friends and the crowd cheering, or coming off the floor and knowing that we did a good performance.
What club do you perform with?
All Star Legacy Cheerleaders
What sort of training are you now needing to do to get ready?
I train three days a week, which is 10 hours a week of intense training to make sure we are ready.
Tell us a bit about being part of Team NZ in the American national cheerleading competition.
It feels really good and I’m proud of myself for how far I have come and worked to get to this spot. It’s amazing to say I am representing our country in Cheerleading. It’s a lot of hard work and dedication but it will be worth it in the end.