Leeds Celtics is one of the University’s most successful sports teams, ranking number one nationally against both University and All Star teams. Its squad boasts a co-ed team, an all girl team, numerous group stunt teams and two dance teams with a membership reaching almost 200! I sat down with the first EVER male Captain of the Leeds University Cheerleading squad – Pete Shepherd – to find out how he is leading this year’s team to even more success!
HC: Hi Pete, apart from being Captain of Leeds Celtics Cheerleading Squad you’re obviously studying here. What course do you do?
Pete:Everyone’s favourite… Dentistry.
HC: How do you manage to combine being the Captain of one of the largest squads at the University with such an intense course?
Pete: Doing dentistry can be stressful, meeting so many people with different personalities, so to get away from that and to do something different and challenging takes your mind off it, so you make it work.
HC: Tell us about some of the success Leeds Celtics have had since you joined the team?
Pete: When I started we were competing at level 2-3 with me and just one other boy. We were not really that competitive as the team could only just about stunt and ‘dance.’ Since joining, it has been pushed up to competition level 4 -6 and the skill level is phenomenal! The gymnastic ability of everyone has increased and the stunting technicalities have also rocketed. The amount of titles we have won now is too many to count on two hands! Numerous members of the Leeds Celtics have also represented our Coaches teams in European competitions and returned home as European champions!
HC: What for you has been the greatest achievement with the Leeds Celtics so far?
Pete: Improving year upon year in both our competitive level and our stunting ability, together with learning new tumbling and single stunting technicalities. All of our training and competing is so hard but so rewarding. You’re constantly trying new things in cheerleading, and you can progress very quickly if you work hard. Of course it keeps you very fit too! And getting to meet lots of amazing people and go on great socials bonds you even more as it really is a team sport where you rely on each other for every bit of progression!
HC: What would you like to achieve this year with the team?
Pete: To remain as a Level 4 team and to win all the titles we enter this year. We have a new uniform, a new coach and a new gym so we want this year to be bigger and better than ever!
HC: What do you enjoy most about being a Celtic?
Pete: The time away from university gives you a change of scene, and it’s great to socialise and hang around with different people, as well as keeping fit at same time.
HC: Other than training & competing what else do the Leeds Celtics get up to?
Pete: We have loads of socials, including going on tour! We take part in numerous charity events, helping to promote events and running the Race for Life. We starred in a recent T -Mobile advert in 2010, performed at a Man United vs. Chelsea match at Old Trafford, perform annually in Fruity and take part in the RAG naked calendar shoot!
HC: So it’s pretty impressive that you’re the first male Cheerleading captain. Is the sport big for boys?
Pete: It is very big for boys on all star teams, but at university, not so much. However, each year we get more and more boys, as the main part of cheer is mainly lifting girls and gymnastics! We encourage boys to join each year and they all stick around; cheerleading is very addictive!