Sask. cheerleaders on track to defend world title

Team Smoke from Rebels Cheerleading Athletics in Regina is set to defend its title at the World Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, FL.
They made history last year for being the first Saskatchewan team to win the prestigious event put on by the International All-Star Federation (IASF).
Smoke is heading into the final round after placing seventh out of 35 teams in the semi-finals on Saturday in the International Open – Level 5 (IO5) category. Smoke is set to hit the mat again on Monday.
Saskatoon’s Prairie Fire Cheerleading Fever finished in 15th place, and Lady Luxe from Regina’s Boss Athletics placed 21st in the same category, meaning they did not qualify for the final round.
Warman Ultimate Cheerleading Peridot also competed in the U18 - Level 5 category. They did not advance to the final round, finishing 11th out of 13 teams.
Two other Saskatchewan teams competed in The Dance Worlds this weekend, also put on by the IASF. Gridders Cheerleading Halftime from Yorkton was 35 out of 37 teams heading into finals on Sunday in the Open Pom category.
Team Desire from Boss Athletics placed eighth out of eight teams in Open Coed Pom. They also represented Team Canada in Freestyle Pom at the International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championships that also took place in Orlando last week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Conservatives poised to prompt marathon voting session on government spending
Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives are poised to prompt what could become an overnight marathon voting session in the House of Commons, signalling Thursday afternoon they plan to make good on their threat to delay the government's agenda by forcing votes on more than 100 line items from the latest spending plans.
Canada doubling cost-of-living requirement for international students
Canada will more than double the cost-of-living financial requirement for incoming international students on Jan. 1, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller announced today.
Flight safety in Canada is plummeting, a confidential UN agency report finds
A draft report from a United Nations agency gives Canada a C grade on flight safety and oversight, down from an A+ and far below most of its peers.
Russian girl shoots several classmates, leaving 1 dead, before killing herself
A Russian girl shot several classmates at school Thursday, killing one person and wounding five others before killing herself, state news agencies and authorities said.
'The Brick' is at the centre of our galaxy. An unexpected new finding may help unlock its mysteries
A box-shaped cloud of opaque dust that lies at the centre of our galaxy has long perplexed scientists, and observations that reveal a new detail about its composition are deepening the mystery — possibly upending what’s known about how stars form.
Amid concern over Canadians going hungry, Conservatives criticized for voting against school food bill
As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre continues to voice concern over the increase in food bank usage, his party is being criticized by some for voting against a private member's bill that would advance a framework for a national school food program.
Canada being hit by 3 separate storm systems: Here's where
Winter weather is underway in parts of Canada with three storm systems bringing messy conditions from B.C. to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Von Miller declines to comment on domestic assault allegations after returning to Bills practice
Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller declined to take questions at his locker on Thursday, a week after turning himself in to police in a Dallas suburb after allegedly assaulting the mother of his children, who is pregnant.
Judge rules in favour of NBA star, nullifies purchase of $8M Burlington mansion once occupied by 'crypto king'
A judge has ruled in favour of NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in his lawsuit against a company that sold him a Burlington mansion previously occupied by self-proclaimed ‘crypto king’ Aiden Pleterski.