Registration will open February 17th.

 

A wait list will be generated if needed as some teams may have limited availability.

 

Welcome to CJT Cheer! Our season will run from June 8th through November 22nd. CJT Cheerleaders will attend 2-3 practices a week (younger teams less). Competitions begin in September at the earliest and will end with the ICA State Championship in November. All competitions are held within Illinois. In addition, teams will cheer on either a Saturday or Sunday for our football teams held at Cary Jr. High starting in August.

 

2026 REGISTRATION FEES:

• Kindergarten-$275

• 1st Grade- $465

• 2nd Grade-$510

• 3rd-8th grade-$590

There is also a $100 volunteer fee per family - Volunteer 4 hours per family to get this fee reimbursed at the end of the season. Payment plans are offered. Deposit of at least $50 due at registration, and then remaining balance will be split into monthly payments.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?:

• Game Day bow, Competition bow

• Practice Facility Rentals

• 3 Local ICA competitions (all spectator admission fees included, parking may be additional) for 3rd-8th grade

• 2 Local ICA competitions for 1st & 2nd grade

• Competition Music

• Professional Choreography

• Year End Banquet Entrance for Cheerleaders (January 11, 2026)

• Trained coaches through Cheer University

• Family Performance Night held at the high school

• Program Insurance

• Mat cleaning services

• First Aid Supplies

ADDITIONAL FEES:

• 8TH GRADE - Mandatory ICA Sleepaway Camp at Carthage College either June 4th - 6th or June 7th-9th. Cost is $475 and we will have a fundraiser to help offset the cost.

• $170 per cheerleader for teams that qualify for the State Championship - only 3rd - 8th grade will attend (There will be optional fundraising with selling mums to help offset this fee)

• Complete Uniform - All teams will be keeping the same same uniforms this year for both Game Day and Competition. You will be able to purchase new pieces if you need a new size. All new athletes will need to purchase Game Day and Competition Uniforms. Kindergarten will only need to purchase Game Day Uniforms.

• Cheerleading Shoes

• Practice apparel

• Summer Skills Clinic - 1st-7th grade

• Optional high school camp

• Team fund (team building activities, competition gifts)

• Pink Bow (only if you lost yours or are new to the  program)

Our season will begin on June 8th. 8th Grade will have a few practices the week of May 18th-22nd to prepare for Camp. 1st grade will begin in July and Kindergarten will begin in August. More info to come. K and 1st grade practice once per week, 2nd-8th will practice twice a week, and 4th-8th will be practicing a third day starting a little later in the season.

IMPORTANT DATES - please keep these dates in mind when planning vacations as all athletes are required to participate in all competitions. We will not know our Competition dates until May 9th. 1st & 2nd will participate in 2 Comps and 3rd - 8th will participate in 3 Comps & State if they qualify:

May 6th and May 12th: Uniform Fittings at Algonquin Township

May 18-22: 8th grade only will have practices prior to Camp

June 4th-6th or 7th-9th: Sleepaway Camp for 8th grade only

June 8th: Season will begin.

September 12th and 13th: Cheercago at Hampshire High School

September 19th and 20th: Red Carpet at BMO Center Rockford

October 3rd and 4th: Cheer Pink at TBD

October 10th and 11th: Cheer Rodeo at TBD

October 24th and 25th:  Spirit Spooktacular at NIU

Family Performance Night: In October at Cary Grove High School

State Championship:

• November 13th & November 20th for 8th Grade at NIU

• November 14th or 15th AND November 21st or 22nd for 3rd - 7th at NIU

• **Teams compete at ICA competitions with the goal to earn a bid to the ICA State Championship. Athletes whose teams qualify are expected to participate**

FOOTBALL GAMES

• Our cheer teams will be cheering for the CJT home football games. All home games will be played at the Cary Jr. High School. The football season will begin around the end of August extending through early November. We will share game schedules as soon as they are available. Cheering at football games is not optional and is a mandatory team commitment. We use this time to support our football teams and strengthen the skills our cheerleaders learn at practice.

TEAM STRUCTURE

Cheer is offered to children in kindergarten through 8th grade.

• All squads will cheer at CJT football games, which run August - November, and are on Saturdays and Sundays.

• 1st grade and 2nd grade will compete in two competitions

• 3rd-8th grades will compete in three competitions with the opportunity to go to State at the end of November.

• All squads will perform at Family Performance Night at CGHS.

• All squads are based on the number of registrations and are subject to change based on meeting the minimum number required for a squad. Some grades could be combined if numbers are not met.

• Most teams practice at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Cary. Some teams will practice at Power Force in Lake in the Hills.