Kelsea Jacob enjoys the toss and tumble of cheerleading

VISHANNA PHAGOO

Cheerleading is a talent that has always been appealing, especially with the countless movies that show at least one cheerleading group in action. But becoming good at it requires strenuous training, given the nature of the routines, that is, being tossed in the air and having precise balance.

This may sound time-consuming, difficult and a bit scary to some, but not for eight-year-old Kelsea Jacob.

Kelsea fell in love with cheerleading after watching her older sister Chelsea practice when she was much younger.

With her very own at-home inspiration, Kelsea was moved to pursue her cheerleading journey at only age five.

In 2019, she joined the Cheer Fusion All Stars TT group and she practised and trained with them at the XDA Headquarters, Stone Street, Port of Spain.

Even though she started early, she said it didn't take her long to learn or perfect the routines.

Kelsea said she can learn the cheerleading routines in one two-hour session with her group, but in order to perfect it, she shyly said that would take two to three months.

With her radiant energy and bursting talent, the group offered her a space in the cheerleading competitions they registered for in 2019 and now, Kelsea has two competitions under her belt.

She told Newsday Kids that the competitions took place at the Arima Velodrome, Arima and the Woodbrook Youth Facility, Hamilton-Holder Street, Port of Spain.

She boasted that she left both those places with shining medals and trophies.

The student of Newton Girls' RC Primary School, Port of Spain, recalled feeling nervous before the competitions but being with the group helped her get the joyous feeling to overthrow the anxiety.

"Before all the competitions, we would practise our steps but we would also pray and that helped me."

When asked why she likes cheerleading, she said it gives her the opportunity to practise her favourite moves which are the tumble, jumps and any movement that lets her dance.

She said these are favourites because, "the moves help me with my muscles and my muscle memory."

She added that it helps with her siblings' muscle memory as well because she always encourages them to help her practise her routines. Kelsea has four siblings: two brothers and two sisters.

Kelsea noted the difference between learning and perfecting her cheerleading routines and her other hobbies, painting and drawing which are completed between ten and 15 minutes. She said her favourite things to draw are butterflies of all shapes, colours and sizes while her favourite paintings are those of sunsets.

"I like drawing and painting those things because they're pretty to me and they help me clear my mind."

She said most of her pieces go into storage but those she's most proud of are gifted to her family members which always leaves her beaming with pride. Kelsea's goal is to venture outside of the artistic world and give back to people by being a nurse.

"I want to be a nurse when I get older because I like caring for people."