How. One, two, three, four – the countdown reverberates loudly through the hall. But it doesn’t start a new song in a Springsteen concert. Emelie, Nisa and Lina fly high in the air. One, two, three four! Once again, trainer Aylin Yilmaz counts the next stunt. The next flight begins. Just a short trip. The long haul is yet to come, because the CFA Twisters (CheerForce Athletics) – the cheerleaders of Kiel MTV – have qualified for “The Summit 2023” in Orlando, Florida.
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“The Summit” – the grand finale of the varsity competition series in April 2023. Cheerleading groups from around the world and the Twisters are there. Work on the next two and a half minute choreography has long since begun. Aylin Yilmaz is standing in the hall, giving commands. Cartwheeling, her protégés between the ages of eight and 15 hiss past her. They still can’t believe their luck.
All of a sudden, the Twisters qualified for Orlando in the Level Two category
“At first we thought that we were forgotten at the award ceremony,” the 28-year-old trainer recalls and laughs mischievously. That was in Hamburg at the Summer All Level Championship North, and as one team after the other was called from back to front, the Twisters didn’t come until almost the end when second place was announced. The performance in Hamburg was “just a dress rehearsal for the state championships in November,” says Yilmaz. Suddenly the juniors in the level two category (difficulty levels 0 to 6) had the Orlando qualification in their pockets.
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In 2005, the Twisters – who came from the Baltic Hurricanes – joined the Kiel MTV. Today there are 60 cheerleaders with the PeeWees (5-10 years), Juniors (up to 15) and Seniors. You can become a junior from the age of eight and you have to become a junior from the age of eleven. For Aylin Yilmaz, who previously coached the PeeWees, it’s her first year with the Juniors. “I like the team spirit in cheerleading. You only work as a team, you are forced to be reliable. That helped me in life,” says the teacher.
The pace in the sports hall of the Ricarda Huch School is increasing. Once again: one, two, three, four! The famous cheerleading pom-poms stayed in the car. Because cheerleading is not just a show, a colorful accessory as is often the case in the US professional leagues, but also sport, acrobatics and dance. The jumps are spot on, the stunts are spot on. Emelie, Nisa and Lina fly again. And yet the Twisters often have to explain their sport. “Sometimes people don’t ask me ‘What are you doing?’ They just ask ‘Who are you cheering for?'” says 15-year-old Adaeze Ossua. The student from the Wellingdorf High School has been with the Twisters for two years. “Everyone here can be who they are.” Emma Ehlers has even been a twister for seven years. The 16-year-old from the vocational high school in Preetz “can’t yet put into words” her joy at qualifying for Orlando.
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Because there were pyramids, jumps and stunts in Hamburg, the overall impression was right and only the RFC Wild Cards (96.99 points) from Bachem landed before the Twisters (95.64), the long-haul airliner will start in April 2023 towards Florida with 18 cheerleaders, Trainers, seniors and parents on board. In total, the group of 60 participants will pitch their tents at the competition site at Walt Disney World Resort. The catch: First place gets paid for the trip for athletes and coaches. Second place has to dig deep into your pocket – a four-digit sum per person.
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The search for sponsors and supporters has begun
So the pom-poms are regularly unpacked, the Twisters try to collect donations at performances, earn small fees, look for possible sponsors and supporters. The image of the sport has long since changed. “The acrobatics, the stunts are the main features. Gymnastics is added more and more. This is sports! We want to convey the mood, but it’s not just about looking beautiful,” says Aylin Yilmaz. The CCVD (Cheerleading and Cheerperformance Association Germany) also advises against cropped tops and exaggerated make-up in its image guidelines. With the PeeWees anyway.
One, two, three, four – Emelie, Nisa and Lina take off. Once again, in the gym of the Ricarda Huch School. It still looks nice when the three of them hover in the air with their arms spread wide. Next year with the whole group – to Orlando in Florida. But that was just the dress rehearsal.