Parktown High School for Girls learner Jocelyn Knox reflected on being awarded her South African blazer for cheerleading.
Jocelyn, and her team, recently came back from Orlando, America, where they competed in the International Cheer Union (ICU) World Cheerleading Championships, the official world championships for youth, junior, and senior national cheerleading teams.
“We recently returned from competing at worlds from April 23–25,” said Jocelyn. “It was an incredible experience. All six South African teams successfully made it to the finals. While not medaling, we did extremely well, and have more work ahead of us for the ICU World Cheerleading Championships in 2027.”
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The Grade 10 learner said that when she began the sport in Grade 7, she was drawn to how close the team was, and the strong bond everyone had with each other. “I loved the idea of being thrown in the air and tumbling across the mat. I love the family I gained through it, and the lessons I learned from it.”
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The cheerleader’s accolades include: being awarded her provincial Colours in 2023 by the Gauteng Majorette and Cheerleading Association (GMCA), receiving her South African Majorette and Cheerleading Association (SAMCA) Colours in 2024 at a provincial competition, and becoming the national and African champions for the high, large, co-ed category, in September 2024, after competing at nationals in Cape Town.
Jocelyn added that receiving her South African blazer was a long time coming, with her journey stemming from her four years in gymnastics, but it wasn’t an easy task, with her first trials for the SA team taking place in April 2024. “Every athlete that was on either team, or in the training programme, trained together for six months, until the second period of trials in October. While training for the national team we all still trained with our actual teams, and continued competing in all the local, provincial, and national competitions that happened along the way. Once the second round of trials was over, the official teams were selected. “
Jocelyn concluded that she wants to continue cheerleading for as long as she can. Participating in competitions for many years to come, and, hopefully, being part of the team that makes history for South Africa with a win.
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