Hannah Warman, who graduated from Rolleston College in 2022, has recently returned from the US victorious.

Hannah and her team competed at the Cheerleading Worlds in Orlando, Florida, in April.

"Competitive cheerleading is very different from what people tend to think," says Hannah.

"It consists of gymnastics, stunting, and dance elements all put together into an intricate 2 minutes and 30 seconds routine, requiring a lot of athletic ability. It’s nothing like the sideline cheer at sports games or what you see in movies!"

Hannah performing at championships.

Preparing for the event required a huge commitment on Hannah and her teammates' part: she relocated to Auckland for ten weeks while balancing university study as well.

"Organising my time wisely was key to being able to make everything work," she says.

Her schedule included training at least three times a week, increasing in the lead-up to the championships with additional sessions and mock competition weekends. Finally, a boot camp week of 12-hour training days culminated with the team heading to Florida for the big dance.

She's grateful for support she received in her cheerleading pursuits at Rolleston College, which included extensions on assignments while she travelled nationally and internationally to chase her goals.

"The school also provided me with the tools to use online learning resources. This helped me balance school and cheer, and meant that I could succeed in both."

The New Zealand team after being crowned world champions.

The New Zealand All Star Cheerleaders team won gold in the International Open Level 5 division.

Hannah notes that you have to make sacrifices to achieve your goals, but "remember, the work is always worth it in the end!"

Hannah with her trophy at the ESPN WIde World of Sports complex.