The PCU Centre in Portage la Prairie was full sparkles and spirit yesterday for the Manitoba Cheer Federation Provincial Championship hosted by Scorpions Elite Cheer. Scorpions Elite Cheer owner and coach Tiffany Recksiedler says the high energy event went over smoothly.

"Everything ran smoothly and on time. We had some great tumbling and stunt group routines in the morning and then we got into the action packed cheer routines in the afternoon. That's when it tends to pick up and get more exciting."

She notes they had a great turnout with a good number of teams participating.

"We had about 25 registered cheer routines. We had about 25 tumbling routines and another 15 stunt group routines. So there is about 450 athletes."

Recksiedler says students always take a lot away from the championship experience.

"It's the experience of getting out there, being brave and coming together as a team. You put in so much hard work training in the background and finally getting to showcase that to the crowd who doesn't get to see all of the hours that you put in behind the scenes to prepare to put on that two minute and thirty second performance."