GCU student set to represent Scotland at major cheerleading championship in Florida
A GCU student is representing Scotland at an international cheerleading competition in Florida next year, after starting cheerleading only three years ago.
Final year Forensic Investigation student Joshua Craik will be competing with Team Scotland at the Cheerleading Worlds 2024 in Orlando, Florida, after being selected to join the team in October.
Joshua, who is also a member of the GCU Cheerleading team and ICE Allstars squad, has trained as a cheerleader since starting it for the first time in 2020. Joshua was inspired by the Netflix TV show ‘Cheer’, which is a documentary series following a professional team in the USA.
Deciding to try it for the first time, Joshua developed his skills enough to join GCU’s Cheerleading team and eventually ICE Allstars, which is based in Inverclyde.
He explained: “I first started three years ago, just before the first pandemic lockdown. I started off by doing tumble classes after watching the Netflix programme “Cheer” and it made me think ‘Yeah, I could try that!’.
From there, I continued working on my skills over the lockdown before starting my studies at GCU. I joined the GCU Cheerleading team, which existed online at the time and I then joined my Allstar team in April 2021. Since then, I’ve been a part of both the GCU Cheerleading and the Allstar team which is based in Greenock.”
After years of perfecting his cheerleading skills, Joshua was delighted to have been chosen to represent his country at an international showcase – an event which gets live-streamed to countries all over the world. He said: “It feels insane! I still haven’t fully processed it. I try making jokes about the fact that I am on Team Scotland, but it’s the truth and I really am going to be competing in Florida.”
Due to the travel costs, Joshua has started a fundraiser to help him get to the competition in Florida. Additionally, Joshua will also donate 25% of the funds raised to the MS Society which is a UK based charity for those affected by Multiple Sclerosis.
Joshua explained: “Unfortunately, travelling to Florida isn’t a cheap experience. Donating to my fundraiser isn’t just helping me get to Florida to pursue my dreams, but it’s helping to encourage other young athletes and specifically male athletes within cheerleading to do the same.
There’s not many males that compete in cheerleading, so if someone were to see a male cheerleader compete at something like Cheerleading Worlds, then it would help emphasise the fact that males can compete and represent teams like Team Scotland as well. It would not only encourage others to join, but it could inspire a younger generation of all genders to try out the sport.
For those interested in trying the sport, much like Joshua was, he wants to emphasise that cheerleading has no prerequisites. He said: “I would say just go for it! Put yourself out there, give it a shot and if it’s not for you then that’s okay – at least you can say that you tried.
One reason that I often hear people use is that they’re not flexible, they can’t do flips or aren’t gymnastic; but you don’t need to be! It’s a skill that you can improve on as you progress in the sport. Go out there, give it your best shot and enjoy it!”
You can donate to Joshua’s fundraiser here
By Rachael McAlonan
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