WSU cheerleaders take school spirit to Japan to train youth, college athletes
OGDEN, Utah — Weber State’s cheer team won its seventh national title and its second Grand National Championship competition at the 2023 NCA/NDA Collegiate Nationals last spring, adding to the team’s global reputation as a cheerleading powerhouse.
Recognizing their talent, Tomoyuki Kakita, director of Japan’s One Academy cheer organization, invited five WSU cheerleaders to teach both youth and college-age athletes in Oita, Fukuoka and Tokyo the week before WSU’s fall 2023 semester..jpg)
“Weber State has such a name for itself worldwide,” said Daniel Bailey, WSU cheerleader. “All the athletes there, particularly older ones, regarded all of us with such reverence.”
Bailey was joined on the trip by Kat Abela, Caylee Odle, Kaden Snyder and Taylor Demler.
While the WSU cheerleaders focused on technique for older athletes, Bailey said clinics for younger athletes were more about having fun.
“It was a really cool experience for them to learn from American cheerleaders and meet some of their idols,” he said.
The cheerleaders held 16 sessions, and Kakita said about 800 Japanese athletes participated. Translators helped interpret the instructions, but often the best ways to communicate were through gestures and body language.
“It was cool just to be able to talk to them through ‘cheer’ words or hand motions or pointing to body parts,” Abela said.
Some days, the cheerleaders held back-to-back sessions, while others allotted time to explore Japan.
“I’m actually part Japanese, and I never managed to make it there before,” Bailey said. “Japanese cuisine is also my favorite in the world, so the food was spectacular for me.”
Abela enjoyed new food experiences, like seeing fish moving on her plate, and wearing a kimono. Prior to the trip, Kakita visited the team in Ogden, and, through conversation, they discovered Abela is especially popular among Japanese cheer enthusiasts.
Abela said her, and her team’s, popularity makes her want to be the best example possible.
“People are watching us, and people are inspired by us,” she said.
Another trip to teach One Academy athletes is being planned for next year.
Jaime Winston, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7396, jaimewinston@weber.edu- Contact:
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu