How It All Began: The Start of UTSC Cheerleading
- UTSC Cheerleading
- May 7, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: May 10, 2019
In tribute to the UTSC Cheerleading team's upcoming 6 year anniversary, we decided to interview the founder of the team, Allison Browning, and get her input on the progress of the team so far and learn how the UTSC Cheerleading came to be! Interested? Keep on reading!
Not everyone knows this but UTSC had cheerleaders in 1968, however, after that the cheerleading team kind of disappeared for a while. What inspired you to start up UTSC Cheerleading again? What makes this team different than the first cheerleaders on UTSC. In 2013, after my first year living on campus, I felt like the campus had so much to offer its students but my peers were often missing out on these events. UTSC is commonly referred to as a commuter campus.The campus needed something to make students feel at home, supported, and encouraged to be apart of our school community – and thats when I knew UTSC needed a new generation of cheerleaders.
What are the foundations (ex. core beliefs, mottos) that started the UTSC Cheer Team?
UTSC Cheer was founded on the guiding principle of diligence in team work. “One Team. One Dream.” was always our motto. When creating the team it was always my vision to make 0 athletic requirements, but would require 100% motivation. I myself had no experience in dance, gymnastics or cheerleading (outside of mimicking moves from ‘Bring It On’). As a team we created a vision for celebrating and encouraging our fellow peers, not only in athletics but wherever we were welcomed.
In our formative years we partnered with a variety of organizations including the UTSC Rainbow Tie Gala, Orientation Week, the Terry Fox Run and UTSC Hockey team’s Duck Hunt event. In a given week we often had a 3 hour practice as a team, independent practices or conditioning 2-3 times a week, as well as at least one team bonding event and/or campus event. Our team always hosted 2 philanthropic events each year during the years I was President. We fundraised for different community mental health initiatives and the Keep-A-Breast Foundation, and these will always be some of my favourite events.
Having a group so close together in turn created a strong bond between all of us even outside of practices or performances. Our team was always coming out in big numbers to campus pub nights, the gym, SCAA’s annual blue mountain trip, and the library (we are still U of T students!). We were all such good friends, and spent so much time together, I could only find one photo of me in my cheerleading uniform where I was alone, and here it is!
What does it mean to be a USTC Cheerleader? To be a UTSC Cheerleader means to be welcoming, accepting and encouraging to yourself and others. It might seem like a cliche for cheerleaders, but I genuinely believe every member who’s been on this team has these qualities and continues to demonstrate them.
As the first president and founder of the UTSC Cheer Team, what were your initial goals and hopes for the team?
My initial goal for this team was to foster a greater sense of community on campus through celebrating and encouraging one another. At first I wasn’t sure how it would come together, but hoped I would find like minded people to help me, and I did! UTSC Cheer wouldn’t be possible without the help of the 17 girls who helped take on leadership roles in the team, showed up to every practice, and came out to all our events.
Did you expect the UTSC Cheer Team to become as developed as it is now? I have always had the utmost confidence in the leadership of the team so I never once questioned that they wouldn’t become more successful than the team I originally created. That’s the best part of being on the team though! The longer you commit yourself to your practice and each other, the better you get. The team has made such incredible progress since I’ve left in every way, from growing the size of the team to the stunts they perform, I couldn’t be more proud!
What visions did you have for the cheer team when you decided to start it up again? (ex. things you saw us doing/accomplishing in the future) When I started the team my vision was to not only have a team that was present at campus athletic events, but to support and celebrate all aspects of student life. Having our team on campus allows more students to hear about events, and engage in activities they might not otherwise participate in. UTSC Cheer continues to shine a light on all things great and awe-inspiring on the Scarborough Campus.
What is your opinion on UTSC Cheer being a club and not recognized as an official team on campus, and more specifically within U of T in general? Do you think that will change in the future? Not being a recognized team on campus, or at U of T never bother me much. There are a lot of benefits to being a club when it comes to funding and collaborating with other student groups. But I do think our team would have worked, and will continue to work just as hard if we were a recognized team. I’m not sure if it would happen in the future, but if the team wants it, unquestionably they could start a conversation with the Athletic Department about it.
A lot of people are still surprised to hear UTSC has a cheerleading team, what are your thoughts on this and how do you anticipate it would change in the future?
I’m not surprised they’re still surprised. I’m anticipating in the future as the team and campus continues to grow that together they can strengthen their sense of community and pride for the school and its students.
Where do you see the cheer team 5 years from now? 10 years from now? I love that the team currently pivots strategies when they need to, and are not afraid to find a better ways to do things, or just get better at the tasks on hand. I think if this same attitude is carried through new members of the team, they will exceed any expectations I could possibly have.
Looking at all the progress that the team has made, do you have any suggestions for future improvement?
My only suggestion is to continue to reinforce the values of being welcoming, accepting, and encouraging to themselves and others in the community.
What advice/comments do you have to pass onto the current team as well as future members of the team? What you learn during your time apart of this team is indispensable for your whatever comes your way. Take the confidence you earn, the leadership skills you gain and the connections you make with you outside of the gym. Never stop dedicating yourself to people and a cause that makes your heart warm.
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