Lake Erie National Cheer Championships Grows to Two Days

Champion Cheer Central will host its annual Lake Erie National Cheer and Dance Championships at the Erie Insurance Arena Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8. This is the fifth year that the Albion, Pa. based cheer and dance organization has hosted the national competition in Erie, and the first year that the event has been held over two days.

The 2018 event will be the largest ever, with more than 150 teams competing, up from 119 teams in the event’s first year. More than 150 teams from four states are expected to compete in the two-day competition, featuring more than 1,500 athletes. The event will feature all-star cheer and dance teams, as well as school and recreational cheer and dance teams.

The event is the final competition in the “Battle of Lake Erie,” a series of six cheer and dance events taking place in the cities along Lake Erie from Toledo, Ohio to Niagara Falls, N.Y.

All prep teams will compete on Saturday, April 7 beginning at 3 p.m. with final awards being presented at 7 p.m. Doors for competition on Sunday, April 8 will open at 7 a.m. with the first performance beginning at 8 a.m. Four sessions of competition will follow, with the final awards of the night being presented beginning at 7 p.m.

Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children, with children under five admitted at no cost.

“We are so excited by the growth of this national event, especially because we’re able to showcase our great hometown of Erie to so many talented athletes from well outside of this region,” said Heather Petz, co-owner of Champion Cheer Central. “These athletes have been competing all winter in preparation for Lake Erie Nationals, and we expect the event to provide a very high level of competition, in particular because so many teams will take part. All of our great partners in Erie, including the Erie Sports Commission, have helped make it possible for us to host these exceptional athletes.”  

“The growth that Champion Cheer Central has experienced not only in this great national event, but in all of its events, has been truly remarkable,” said Ron Sertz, Executive Director of the Erie Sports Commission. “The Lake Erie National Cheer and Dance Championships is a perfect example of how Erie’s central location makes it a perfect destination for sporting events. We’re eager to welcome so many talented athletes to our shore.”

For more information, visit championcheercentral.com.