DOWNEY — The C.I.F. Southern Section officially canceled it’s traditional competitive cheer championships Monday due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

This announcement includes both Downey and Warren High Schools as well as other San Gabriel Valley League squads. The competitive cheer championships were scheduled for April 3.

After the CIF met with its Cheer Advisory Committee, it was decided that it could not hold the championships “in the manner they deserve.” Therefore, cheer has been canceled for the remainder of the 2020-21 academic school year.

The CIF explained that the California Department of Public Health restrictions will keep cheer programs from adequately preparing for the competitions and as a result, was determined to not be possible to have cheer teams from the seven counties within the Southern Section compete in the same location with so many people in attendance.

Interestingly, the Cheer Advisory Committee rejected the notion to have virtual competitions because the standards of an officially sanctioned CIF championship competition “could not be met.” 

I am certain there are many disappointed and upset coaches, parents and cheerleaders as a result of this highly unpopular decision. Competitive cheer has been a CIF sanctioned sport since the 2017-18 school year and many cheer scholarships have been earned by standout cheerleaders.