Crush cheerleaders honed their skills at Repertoire Club

Devyn Jones, left, and Brianna Panasiuk have joined the Edmonton Crush cheerleading team this season. Both girls had their talents groomed in the High Prairie Repertoire Dance Society for many years and danced together while attending school. Both love dancing and performing on the bigger stage of Rexall Place.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

Two High Prairie teenagers have carried their love of dancing to a much larger stage. Devyn Jones and Brianna Panasiuk, both 19, are members of the Crush, the Edmonton Rush lacrosse cheerleading team. Jones, who attends Grant MacEwan College in the Bachelor of Arts program, was first to join. “It looked like fun,” says Jones. “I tried out this year. I wasn’t sure what to expect.” Jones attended the six-hour tryout with 40 other girls and was chosen for the team. When a vacancy arose, she invited Panasiuk to try out for the team. She did and the rest is history. Both women enjoy performing in front of the thousands who attend Rush games. “It’s fun and I enjoy it,” says Panasiuk, who attends Grant MacEwan College in the Bachelor of Education program. “You get to perform in front of a lot of people.” “I am so excited about it,” adds Jones. “But there are only eight home games to perform. I get a rush whether I perform for 10 people or a way bigger crowd.” Being a Crush member is not a walk in the park. Each member must be in top physical condition to perform the demanding jazz and hip-hop routines. The Crush train twice weekly: each Thursday for 75 minutes and Sunday for two hours. The High Prairie women comprise two of the 15-member team. Panasiuk says being on the team is very enjoyable because they all get along so well. “I love all the girls on the team,” she says. The Crush appear on the floor during timeouts and dance. “But we’re always up and around,” says Panasiuk. “We do lots of promotion during the game.” Crush members are selling tickets for all home games. “If we sell them all they go towards a team fund to send us to Pro-Dance,” says Panasiuk. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets can call Brian or Lynn Panasiuk at 780-523-2950. The Rush play home games against Colorado Feb. 22, Philadelphia Feb. 27, Calgary March 13, Toronto March 28, Calgary April 3 and Portland April 18. All games are at Recall Place. Panasiuk is the daughter of Brian and Lynn Panasiuk of High Prairie. Jones was a long-time resident of High Prairie and the daughter of Garand and Debbie Jones, who now reside in Spruce Grove.

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