AWARDS
Each year, Cheer Manitoba hands out special awards to members of the cheer community who go above and beyond for our sport. These awards are handed out annually at our Provincial Championships.
Trailblazer Award
This person has positively influenced the cheer community as a whole and the growth of the sport of cheerleading within Manitoba to help make it what it is today.
2025 recipient:
Mallory Mitchell
Mallory Mitchell is a true pioneer in the Manitoba cheerleading community, with more than 25 years of dedication as an athlete, coach, gym owner, board member, and event organizer. Her legacy began with building one of the province’s first all-star programs at Central Cheer, laying the foundation for competitive cheer to thrive in Manitoba. Mallory played an instrumental role in the MAC/MCF merger and was a driving force behind the creation of Cheer Manitoba, stepping up during a time of financial crisis to help keep the sport alive. Her willingness to lead in moments of uncertainty speaks to her deep commitment, unmatched work ethic, and unwavering belief in the power of cheerleading.
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Mallory’s impact doesn’t stop at the administrative level — her vision and passion have created lasting opportunities for athletes across the province. From founding successful programs to launching Winter Riot, a two-day event that has elevated the competition experience locally, Mallory continues to shape the future of the sport. Her influence reaches far beyond her own teams; she’s built connections across the community, championed new programs, and consistently advocated for growth, inclusion, and recognition of the sport. A fierce, unapologetic leader who inspires everyone she meets, Mallory’s dedication to cheerleading has not only preserved its legacy in Manitoba — she’s helped redefine it.
Ruth Hollonquist Sportsmanship Awards
This athlete is encouraging and supportive of their teammates. They consistently display a positive attitude, they are respectful of other teams and show sportsmanship when attending various events throughout the year. They are a role model demonstrating the desired spirit of our community and sport.
2025 scholastic recipient:
Skyla Dickerson (Barons Cheerleading)
Skyla Dickerson is the embodiment of heart, resilience, and team spirit. She shows up not just as a teammate, but as a leader and source of light for everyone around her. Her positivity is unmatched — from uplifting her team after a tough pyramid sequence to cheering on other squads with genuine respect and admiration, Skyla always chooses kindness and encouragement. She never looks for credit, instead redirecting praise toward her teammates and celebrating their accomplishments as if they were her own. Her quiet strength, humble attitude, and ability to lift the entire team’s morale make her a standout in every way.
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What sets Skyla apart goes beyond athletic talent — it's her unwavering dedication despite the challenges she faces. Balancing multiple jobs to support her participation in cheer, she never misses a practice and never lets her circumstances dim her spirit. She shows up, every time, with a smile and the kind of drive that inspires everyone in the room. Skyla is a role model, not just because of what she does, but because of who she is — resilient, compassionate, and endlessly selfless. She reminds us all of what sport is truly about: lifting each other up, pushing forward through adversity, and showing love for the game and for the people who play it.
2025 all-star recipient:
Izzy Wiebe (Central Cheer)
Izzy is the kind of athlete who lifts the entire team just by being herself. Her energy, spirit, and deep love for the sport are infectious — she truly is the heart of her team. Whether she’s cheering for a teammate mid-routine, congratulating competitors with genuine admiration, or encouraging someone during water break, Izzy leads with kindness and passion. She’s the first to clap for other teams, the first to smile when things get tough, and the one who brings everyone together with her positivity and unshakable belief in those around her. She makes everyone feel included and valued, setting the tone for a respectful and uplifting team environment.
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Izzy stands out because she doesn’t just show up — she shows up for others. Her sportsmanship goes far beyond what’s expected: congratulating opponents, celebrating with humility, and turning setbacks into opportunities to grow. She reaches out to athletes from other gyms with support and encouragement, both in person and online, and shows the kind of grace and maturity that coaches dream of seeing in their athletes. Izzy is not just a talented and hardworking athlete — she is a leader, a role model, and the kind of teammate who makes the sport better for everyone around her.
Coach of the Year Awards
This coach exemplifies an outstanding leadership and coaching style. They are in good standing with Cheer Manitoba and Cheer Canada. They support and foster a positive and safe learning environment within their team and program. They motivate and inspire athletes in unique and caring ways. They go above and beyond for their athletes, coaching mentors and entire cheer family.
2025 scholastic recipient:
Barbara Carrico (Maples Pom)
Barbara Carrico is the heart and soul behind the Maples Pom team, and her impact extends far beyond choreography and competition scores. She is known for creating an environment where athletes not only grow in their sport but also in their self-worth and confidence. Her coaching style is defined by compassion, encouragement, and consistency — always reminding her athletes that placements don’t define their worth. Barbara ensures every athlete feels seen and supported, whether it’s through one-on-one instruction, words of affirmation, or simply offering a shoulder to lean on. She’s described as a coach who feels more like an older sister — approachable, dependable, and always cheering her team on, no matter what.
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What makes Barbara truly stand out is her commitment to each athlete’s personal journey. She goes above and beyond to eliminate barriers, even helping athletes find ways to afford competition fees so no one is left behind. She leads with kindness and strength, supporting her team both on and off the floor. Whether it's arranging Zoom practices during school closures, staying late to offer extra help, or sharing moments of celebration and growth with her athletes, Barbara is a constant source of motivation. She doesn’t just coach a team — she builds a family. Her athletes are passionate and confident because Barbara believes in them before they believe in themselves.
2025 all-star recipient:
Carla Switzer (Central Cheer)
Carla is the kind of coach every athlete dreams of having. Her unwavering positivity, genuine care, and deep personal connections with her athletes set her apart in a truly remarkable way. Whether she’s cheering for her team after a fall by highlighting how well they recovered, or pulling an athlete aside for a 1:1 conversation on a tough day, Carla consistently chooses encouragement and empathy. Her athletes aren’t just members of a team — they’re part of a family. She takes the time to know each of them individually, not just as athletes, but as people, building their confidence from the inside out.
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What makes Carla stand out is not just her dedication, but the energy and love she brings into every practice, every competition, and every interaction. She inspires through action — sharing inspiring quotes, providing thoughtful feedback, and supporting athletes even after they’ve moved on from her team. Her reliability is unmatched, her spirit is contagious, and her coaching style is both firm and filled with heart. Carla doesn't just coach a sport — she shapes strong, confident, resilient individuals. Her impact stretches far beyond the mat, and it’s clear she’s a leader not only in cheer, but in life.
Trailblazer Award
This person has positively influenced the cheer community as a whole and the growth of the sport of cheerleading within Manitoba to help make it what it is today.
2024 recipient:
Bailey Campbell (CIA)
Bailey began her cheer career as an athlete but soon went on to coach, serve on the provincial board, and even became a judge. Bailey judges cheerleading events across Canada and is very respected in this role. According to those who nominated her, she is a positive role model who provides a safe and body positive space for athletes. She continues to be a champion for the sport making sure there is room for everyone in cheerleading, no matter what a person's background or financial situation might be. Bailey works hard to make sure everyone feels accepted in the sport.
Congrats on this milestone, Bailey!
Ruth Hollonquist
Sportsmanship Awards
This athlete is encouraging and supportive of their teammates. They consistently display a positive attitude, they are respectful of other teams and show sportsmanship when attending various events throughout the year. They are a role model demonstrating the desired spirit of our community and sport.
2024 scholastic recipient:
Sofia Correia (Maples Pom)
Sofia is always the first to congratulate athletes from other teams. No matter what placement she receives at a competition, she is positive and gracious. When asked what it meant to be a captain for her team she said: "For me, the title of captain doesn't mean I'm the best or better than my team. To me it means that I am lucky to be able to share my dream and help my teammates build new skills and build our team. We are all equals, we are a team."
2024 scholastic recipient:
Lucie Brotelle
(Oak Park Pom)
At the beginning of the year, Oak Park Pom had a low number of people at their first tryout (to the point where they did not know if they would have a team). But Lucie, a first year pom athlete, went around and advertised tryouts to people urging them to come out and join. She is an international student who is only in Canada for her grade 12 year. One of her main goals coming to Canada is that she wanted to dance with pom poms like she had seen on TV. She is one of the main reasons Oak Park had a pom team this year!
2024 all-star recipient:
Airylyn Williams (CIA)
Airylyn always looks out for the other athletes at her gym. She has a positive attitude and loves the sport so much. She doesn't consider a competition only a place to compete but an opportunity to showcase the skills you've learned that year. She leads by example and embodies sportsmanship. Congrats, Airylyn!
2024 all-star recipient:
Cruz Davis (CIA)
Cruz is always making his team laugh, lifting spirits in the gym and sharing positive words of encouragement. With Recon and SWAT he is like the big brother, going above and beyond to make his teammates laugh, picking them up when they are down and trying to incorporate his football chants with SWAT which always calms their nerves right before they compete. With only five other boys in the program, all being younger than him, he is always an amazing role model and is there to support them.
Coach of the Year Awards
This coach exemplifies an outstanding leadership and coaching style. They are in good standing with Cheer Manitoba and Cheer Canada. They support and foster a positive and safe learning environment within their team and program. They motivate and inspire athletes in unique and caring ways. They go above and beyond for their athletes, coaching mentors and entire cheer family.
2024 scholastic recipient:
Autumn Ryden
(Westdale School
and Oak Park Cheer)
Autumn works so hard to create engaging opportunities for her athletes. This year, more than half of her 31 athletes are brand new to cheer and she has gone above and beyond to introduce the sport in an exciting way; celebrating successes and pushing her team to accomplish goals.
Autumn is a volunteer coach of two teams that practice at 7am. She gives her time to these athletes nearly every morning of the week in practices and spends countless hours outside of practice making plans for her athletes. On top of this, Autumn is head coach at Westdale and leads a team of new coaches, junior coaches, and brand new teacher advisors. While it's wonderful to have the extra help, managing a large coaching team and keeping everyone engaged and feeling that their contributions are valuable is a daunting task that she handles with grace.
2024 all-star recipient:
Kamille Wieler (CIA)
Kamille dedicates so much time to the sport of cheerleading - driving 2 hours to get to the gym and has even been known to sleep at the gym in order to ensure she is ready for an early morning practice.
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Due to scheduling conflicts, CIA did not have a pom coach available this year so Kamille stepped in and took on that responsibility as well. Kamille is extremely respectful, she preaches sportsmanship, integrity, and healthy relationships. She strives to make cheer a safe space for her athletes, one where they know they are valued and an integral part of the team. Everything that Kamille embodies and provides to our gym and sport deserves to be acknowledged for everyone to see. Our gym would not be the same if she wasn’t a part of it.
Junior Coach of the Year Awards
This athlete is working under the guidance and careful watch of experienced certified coaches. They are learning the fundamentals of coaching, creating practice plans, learning the basics of safe sport and motivating athletes. They work hard to learn about skill development, the scoring systems and all that comes with being a leader!
2024 recipient:
Emma Hasanovic (CIA)
Coaching a young team is not easy as they tend to have a short attention span, but Emma has patience working with these young athletes and a great approach for running practices to keep them engaged while still learning the fundamentals of cheer and the base movements. She adapts the practice plan to her athletes needs and can keep them listening for an hour and a half twice a week.
She is always active and playing with the athletes making sure they are having fun while still learning the sport fundamentals.
2024 recipient:
McKenna Chuhai (PCA)
McKenna is always her authentic self. She is funny, silly, encouraging, an amazing athlete, showcases the importance of fitness in the sport, asks for help when needed, and she cultivates a feeling of family. She knows her abilities and is never scared to ask for help.
McKenna makes each and every athlete feel special. To her, they are a part of her cheer family. Specifically, she remembers details about their life outside of cheer and asks about them, she checks in when they are not themselves, she encourages them but also pushes them to be their best.
