Junior cheerleaders strike gold - But coaches warn funding must follow

Twenty-one young Jamaican athletes have given the country reason to celebrate after winning gold at last month’s staging of the 2026 ICU Pan American and Copa América Cheerleading Championships in Mexico. Their triumph has also exposed the financial burden borne by families determined to help their children succeed in the growing sport.

Led by head coach Tajay Malcolm, the junior national team secured Jamaica’s first gold medal at the competition at national-team level, winning the IASF Under-12 All Girl Intermediate Level 2 division.

The achievement marks a milestone for Jamaican cheerleading, demonstrating what young athletes can accomplish through disciplined training, teamwork, and determination. Yet behind the celebrations are parents who made considerable sacrifices to ensure that their children could represent the country.

Malcolm, who is also an assistant coach of Judes Panthers, said the victory was both a reward for months of hard work and a reminder of the need for greater investment in the sport.

“As the coach of the Jamaican National Team, I am incredibly proud to have been part of a team that made history by securing Jamaica’s first-ever gold medal at the competition at the national-team level,” he said.

“What these young athletes accomplished is something that goes far beyond the medal. They represented Jamaica on an international stage with tremendous pride, discipline, and determination, and they demonstrated that our young athletes have the ability to compete at the highest levels when they are given the opportunity, preparation, and support to do so.”

Preparation demanded countless hours of training and a willingness to overcome physical and mental challenges, Malcolm said. The athletes also had to develop trust in one another, recognising that every member played a vital role in the team’s success.”

Expensive venture

He was particularly emphatic about the contribution of parents, who covered transport to training, uniforms, equipment, and other costs associated with international competition.

“International cheerleading is expensive, particularly when you are doing it at the national level. The financial commitment required from these families was substantial, and I do not want that part of the story to go unnoticed. The parents believed in their children and believed in what we were trying to accomplish.”

Those sacrifices extended beyond time and effort. Parents were asked to contribute $130,000 towards the championships, payable in three instalments. Families that missed the deadlines paid between $155,000 and $175,000.

The fees covered airfare and accommodation. Parents also had to purchase competition shoes, hair extensions for prescribed hairstyles, as well as black jeans and shoes for travel, carry-on luggage, and other personal travel items.

The costs underscore the financial pressure on families seeking international opportunities for their children and the need for sponsorship to help cover travel and competition expenses, ensuring that access is not determined by a family’s ability to pay.

Among those celebrating the historic victory is 10-year-old Isabelle Vernon, a grade four student at St Jude’s Primary School who has already emerged as a promising athlete across several disciplines.

Since taking up cheerleading in 2025, Isabelle has won 15 medals, including 11 golds, competing at Levels 1 and 2 in local and international events.

Her latest success followed another major international outing in February 2026, when she represented Judes Panthers at the ICU World Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida. The team won silver in its division, experience that helped prepare the athletes for Mexico.

Selected from a pool of about 60 athletes, Isabelle joined the 21-member national team as a base athlete, helping to support and stabilise teammates during routines.

Vernon was one of eight St Jude’s Primary School students selected for Team Jamaica. The others were Amelia Simpson, Arianna Temple, Daneilliya Thomas, Brianna Collins, D’ziah Brown, Rickayla Brown, and Keziah Barton.

Hard work

Principal Susanna Ainsworth said the school community was delighted by the girls’ performance and the recognition they brought to Jamaica.

“We are incredibly proud of these young ladies. Winning the gold medal is a reflection of their hard work, discipline, and teamwork. They represented St Jude’s and Jamaica with excellence, and they have shown every child in our school that big dreams are possible.”

Kristinna Bryan-Genus, manager of Judes Panthers, said the victory reflected the athletes’ dedication and the coaches’ commitment.

She credited Malcolm and Kennar Dandy, head coach of Judes Panthers, with helping the girls progress from beginners to athletes capable of competing successfully on the international stage.

Dandy said international competition earlier in the year helped prepare the athletes for success in Mexico.

“The trainings were intense and pushed them beyond their limits, forcing them to improve on their basing skills, tumbling skills, and presentation as a cheerleader. Overall, this is a huge milestone for Jamaican cheerleading and the potential for us to excel in all categories of cheerleading.”

St Theresa Allen, Isabelle’s mother and president of the St Jude’s Primary School Parent-Teacher Association, also praised the young athletes, describing them as pioneers in the development of the sport locally.

Allen described cheerleading as a demanding sport requiring athleticism, discipline, and teamwork.

Allen also commended Karelle Jones, founder, chief executive officer and director of Jamfit, for her role in developing cheerleading in Jamaica, alongside the coaches and supporters who helped prepare the team.

However, she said the financial burden on families remains a major concern.

Allen said attempts to secure sponsorship from corporate, government, and entertainment-sector stakeholders for Isabelle’s participation yielded no support. Instead, she relied on personal resources, close friends, and well-wishers to meet the expenses.

“Almighty God has been faithful!”

She appealed to corporate Jamaica and other stakeholders to invest in the sport.

Malcolm believes that the gold medal should serve as a catalyst for a more structured and adequately funded approach to competitive cheerleading.

“There are talented young athletes in Jamaica who have the ability to go very far in this sport, but talent alone is not enough,” he said. “We need an ecosystem that allows these athletes to develop and compete without the financial burden falling almost entirely on their families.”

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com