WITH just a few hours to go everyone is getting pumped up for the 2015 National Cheerleading Championships taking place today at the National Indoor Sports Centre. The Jamaica Cheer Federation (JACF) president Karelle Jones is especially excited to see the improvement in the technical abilities of the cheer students. “We are ready for the world!” she exclaimed.

Jamaica will be welcoming delegates from Canada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico and the USA.

Local guests will include the High Commissioner for Canada, the High Commissioner for Trinidad and Tobago, the Minister of Sports, the Vice-President of the Jamaica Olympic Association, members of the Jamaica Tourist Board and other distinguished VIPs.

Local talent will be rubbing shoulders with international cheerleaders and judges.

“Jamaica is filled with exceptional talent, just eager to be seen, the most important thing in cheerleading is energy and our students have that in abundance,” said JACF member Stephen McCubbin.

This year sees 14 high school teams and 18 primary and preparatory school teams entering and they will be judged based on

their technical ability, choreography, discipline, execution and energy. Judges will also be looking for smiling faces, uniforms, pyramids, throws and catches.

Schools such as Camperdown High, Titchfield, Port Antonio High, Haile Selassie, The Queens School, St Hugh’s, The Mannings School, Pembroke Hall, St. Andrew for Girls, St. Jago, Dunoon Technical, Oberlin, Clan Carthy and St Andrew College are set to compete.

Primary and prep schools will not be left out. Fans can look out for Seaview Primary, Franklin Town Primary, Mountain View Primary, Mona Primary, Windsor Castle Primary, St Andrew Prep, St Hugh’s Prep, St Peter and Paul Prep, St John’s Primary, St Jude’s Primary, Iris Gelly Primary, Excelsior Primary, Portsmouth Primary, Dunrobin Primary, Holy Family Primary, Mavisville Prep, Brandon Hill Primary and Knox Junior School.