The Western Mustangs cheerleading team returned to national glory yesterday winning the national university title again for the 23rd time in 24 years.
“We destroyed Queen’s at the nationals,” says coach David-Lee Tracey.
Last year, the Gaels knocked Western off the national title pedestal for the first time in 23 years at the University & Open National Cheerleading Championships, but the Mustangs were eager to return to their spot at the top.
The 31-member team – 16 men and 15 women – is young.
“Half our team is rookies,” Tracey says.
Western recorded the highest score of the entire event in both the collegiate and the open all-star divisions on Friday Nov. 28 en route to victory at the Powerade Centre in Brampton, just north of Toronto.
Western has won the title every year except 2007, dating back to 1985.
Aaron Charbonneau also won the tumbling competition for the fourth year in a row.
“No one was close to him,” Tracey says.
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