City Varsity – Cheerleading
2026 Regional Champions
A Big Win for City Central All-Stars
London, United Kingdom. – The City Central Allstars (CCA) Black Placed First in ICC National Championship.
On 14th March, the City, St. Georges Varsity cheerleading team travelled to Just Believe, Legacy Cheer and Dance Competition at Wembley OVO Arena, London.
It was the first competition of the season to showcase their skills in front of hundreds of people. For RED, the pressure fuelled a first-place performance, sweeping out eight other teams from across the country after their two-and-a-half-minute routine.
Main flyers Letty Tavares, Ilsa Dar, and Izzy Liu hit every stunt with near perfection with the help of their bases, and front and back spots.
A Dicey Situation
While RED celebrated a win, BLACK was stunned by surprise. The latter competed in the Level 1 Co-ed Tumbling division, a skill level below RED.
BLACK, the 38 members’ crew performed their iconic routine, nailing their main stunt and standing tumbles with precision.
Despite the relentless effort and commitment to perfecting the routine, it just fell short of winning. The team placed 5th place, missing a higher rank due to a total deduction of 0.75 points. In a sport where the level of execution and difficulty are assessed, BLACK received its highest deduction of –0.3 in the stunts and pyramid sections.
CCA Coach Chin kept the team focused with this message leading up to comp day:
“Since we are a bigger team, we are more likely to win when
executed well, but vulnerable for more mistakes to be noticeable. So don’t lose”
Although placing last, BLACK achieved an impressive overall score of 92/100, proving no matter how high the stakes are, and with minor deductions they are a force to be reckoned with as they head into the next round of competition.
Part time Cheerleader, Full time Student
The journey to regionals was not an easy battle. 65% of the team were new and 80% had no prior experience in cheerleading before joining in October.
The newbie wave of aspiring cheerleaders meant that the first few weeks were dedicated to improving fundamental skills.
First time flyers Zulfa Saiid, Annabelle Pollack, and Lucie Mansour had to overcome the mental and physical hurdles such as balance, core strength, flexibility, and fear management.
Meanwhile, side bases and back-spots are responsible for lifting and stabilising the flyers. They spent weeks conditioning their physical strength, technical precision, and spatial awareness to keep themselves and the flyer safe. The team had also faced many setbacks when five members dropped out mid-season at different times, inevitably forcing the entire team to rework choreography and find last-minute replacements.
Compared to other sports, competing shorthanded is not an option. As one expert puts it: “If you lose a blackspot or a base, the stunt is incomplete. It simply cannot be executed unless everyone is there.”
What’s Next?
This is just the beginning for the City Central Allstars.
For those interested in supporting the team, the team’s next home appearance will be during Varsity season, with the schedule yet to be determined.
The City Central Allstars will be performing here:
- March 14th: Legacy Cheer and Dance (Birmingham)
- March 29th: University Nationals – ICC British Open (Telford)
A Word from the Co-Captains:
“This year, I have been honoured to be Captain of such an amazing team. Initially I was a little nervous because I have never done something quite like this, but yesterday at our first competition, I realised I am right where I want and should be. Our first competition showed me what it really means to move and think as a team and to celebrate both our losses and successes. Because at the end of the day, we will always be there for one another. Come rain or shine, I will always be there for my team and CCA will always have a special place in my heart.”
— Love, Elizabeth Co-Captain of CCA’25-26
“One of my favourite parts of the cheer team is the community- living on the other side of the world, relative to my family, the team allows me to have a great support system and a sense of belonging. Our determination to do well, not just in a competitive aspect but to prove to ourselves and each other how capable we are makes me immensely proud to be the Captain of the team.”
- Poppy (Co-captain)
e for lifting and stabilising the flyers. They spent weeks conditioning their physical strength, technical precision, and spatial awareness to keep themselves and the flyer safe. The team had also faced many setbacks when five members dropped out mid-season at different times, inevitably forcing the entire team to rework choreography and find last-minute replacements.
Compared to other sports, competing shorthanded is not an option. As Coach Monica Aldama, puts it in Netflix show Cheer: “If you lose a blackspot or a base, the stunt is incomplete. Your actions affect others.”
More Than a Sport
Cheer means more than just winning titles, it’s a community. To some, it feels more closer to home.
“If i was to describe Central City Allstars with one word it would be home. CCA has given me friends for life, built on my confidence, how i carry myself in the world and…be the absolute best.” — Elizabeth, Co- Captain
First year nursing student Jeena Rani comments about her experience:
“Cheer has been such a fun experience. I’ve met so many wonderful girls, increased my social life and my confidence.”
Left to Right–
Top row: Theresa Farah, Nicol Huchema, Abbie Morgan, Melike Sahin, Elizabeth Aina, Annabelle Pollak, Elyse Thomas, Nina Wilson, Tish Webber, Ida Foon, Cláudio Cabral, Raiya Todorova, Ashna Halai, Jenny Papeta, Dana Zigadlo, Jaydeen Forde, Ilsa Dar, Destiny Samuels, Jeena Bahanot, Bryanna Dombo, and Ami Musa.
Bottom row: Emma Krasniqi, Izzy Liu, Zulfa Said, Sofi Azcarate, Lina Laris, Poppy Basilia, Rebbeca Myers, Cara Brown, Lexie Jantzen, Sienna Hollis, Lucie Mansour, Francesca Molonia, Nyah Preddie, Alvina Tsui, Letty Tavares, Giorgia Sartori.
