As a firm believer in full-circle moments, Cochranite Maya Griscowsky has returned to her alma mater, Bow Valley High School, to give students the same enriching experience she once had as a teen.
“I graduated from Bow Valley High School in 2017,” she recalled. “There was a cheer dance team for two years while I was there, and I absolutely loved it. I wanted to come back and give today’s students the same opportunity I had.”
After high school, Griscowsky continued her education at the University of Calgary, where her passion for cheer and dance only grew.
“In 2019, I started a cheer team at Bow Valley,” she explained. “Unfortunately, the pandemic put things on pause, but I was invited back in 2023.”
With more experience and a network of fellow cheerleaders, including members of the University of Calgary Dinos Cheer Team, Griscowsky was able to reintroduce cheerleading to Cochrane youth with renewed energy and momentum.
“Several of the Dinos cheerleaders volunteered as coaches throughout the year,” she said. “This year, we entered competitions and they actually won their first one. It was amazing!”
The students’ energy and enthusiasm have brought back fond memories for Griscowsky and inspired her to help grow Cochrane’s cheer community.
“I’d say the cheer scene here is still emerging,” she noted. “Most of the kids who join are solely focused on cheer. They’ve found their thing, a way to connect with the school and belong. That was me too. I wasn’t into band or soccer. Cheer was how I fit in at Bow Valley.”
Now, from August 25 to 29, Griscowsky is extending that opportunity to youth across Cochrane with the town’s first summer cheer camp, hosted in partnership with the University of Calgary Dinos Cheer Team.
The five-day camp will be held at the Spray Lake Sawmills Centre and will introduce participants to the fundamentals of cheerleading including jumps, tumbling, and stunting. Open to students in Grades 8 through 12, the camp is beginner-friendly and requires no prior experience.
“I’m really excited to run this camp,” said Griscowsky. “My coaches at the University of Calgary have been incredibly supportive of this project.”
The camp will culminate in a student performance during Cochrane’s Labour Day Parade, giving participants a chance to showcase their newly acquired skills.
“I think it’s a great way to spotlight cheerleading and celebrate what the kids have learned,” she said. “I’m hoping this becomes an annual event to grow awareness and support for cheer in Cochrane.”
Registration is open until August 1. For more information, visit: Summer Cheer Camp Info
