Okayama University WIZARDS Cheerleading Club participated in the 33rd All Japan Cheerleading Championships (Inter-collegiate) held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium (Shibuya, Tokyo) on February 6.

Eight students representing the WIZARDS took part in the “Cheerleading Spirit Performance”, a freestyle event in which participants choreograph their own cheer routine set to music, using arm motions, jumps, tumbling techniques and dance moves typically used in cheering. After a powerful performance, in the second half the group performed a breathtaking dance set to Disney’s popular song “Let it Go”.

Many of the cheer groups scheduled to perform at the All Japan Championships had withdrawn from the competition, leaving only two groups―from Okayama University and Aoyama Gakuin University (Tokyo)―to compete in this particular category. Although the WIZARDS managed to score an impressive 127.0 points with their performance, unfortunately they were defeated by Aoyama Gakuin University, who managed to score 136.5 points.

Commenting on the result, cheer captain TAIRA Noan (2nd year, Faculty of Education) said, “The whole club feels motivated by the fact that we were able to compete at the All-Japan Championships despite the ongoing pandemic. This experience has encouraged us to keep training and to do our best.”

Okayama University students competed in the All-Japan Championships while following extracurricular activity guidelines, which ensure that students participate in sports safely by prescribing practical prevention measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus.