On The Record with Jeffrey Reed
September 19, 2026
I Cheered With The Western Mustangs On National TV – During The Yates Cup
Photos courtesy Sun Media:
Participatory journalism has always interested me – no surprise, author George Plimpton had a major influence on my career. The American writer penned accounts of his active involvement in professional sports, acting in a Western, performing a comedy act at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and playing with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
It was his sportswriting, though, that captured my eye and influenced my career. Author of three dozen books, Plimpton penned classics including, Paper Lion (1966), his most famous book, detailing his time trying out as a backup quarterback for the Detroit Lions; and Shadow Box (1977), Plimpton’s exploration into the world of professional boxing, including sparring with Archie Moore.
In 2011, at age 49, I took a page out of Plimpton’s playbook and wrote a year-long column, Out Of My League, for Sun Media. In fact, Plimpton’s 1961-published book of the same title chronicles the author’s humorous and near-humiliating pitching against MLB All-Stars at Yankee Stadium.
David Lee-Tracey
So in 2011, as an aging athlete quickly approaching age 50, I fully immersed myself and fully committed to the lives of elite athletes. I practiced with the London Lightning of the professional National Basketball League of Canada; batted against Molly Yetman, one of the world’s top fastball pitchers; and played tackle football with the CCH Crusaders senior boys football squad. And I had the bruises to prove it.
These were no publicity stunts, as we’ve seen with way too many television personalities looking for attention and laughter. This was serious business, with each team and athlete treating me as if I was one of them – at least, for one game or practice.
Amongst all of my experiences during the Out Of My League run, cheering with the national-champion Western Mustangs cheerleading squad greatly outshone any of my experiences during the writing of my column. In fact, David-Lee Tracey – the team’s head coach since 1985 and a London Sports Hall of Fame inductee – helped make this a memorable and authentic experience: he made sure that I worked harder than any other member of the squad, even if just for two days, and he didn’t patronize me. In fact, he treated me just like he did every other member of that talented tumbling team. And on more than one occasion, he gave me an old-fashioned ass kicking for not doing my job right the first time.
Don’t mistake competitive cheerleading for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Real cheer athletes are some of the best athletes I’ve ever seen perform. Trust me, 15 years ago I had a front-row seat as I not only witnessed their athleticism but also learned their routines – and then performed at what is now Western Alumni Stadium, home of the Western Mustangs football powerhouse.
In fact, I cheered during the Yates Cup – and in front of a national TV audience. That’s right, your humble scribe, at age 49 – a broken-down former pitcher now golfing six days a week at a low-handicap index – put away his notepad, made mental notes and worked his ass off cheering with the No. 1 cheer squad in the country. There was no room to hide: the stadium was full, and tens of thousands were watching on national TV.
Jeffrey Reed cheers on the Mustangs at the Yates Cup
Since 2011, the Mustangs have added to their legendary record – they’re 38-time Power Cheerleading Athletics (PCA) champions. No one else comes close.
No doubt, this was the craziest and perhaps the most exciting experience of my entire career as a sports journalist. Here’s my account from late-fall 2011. Enjoy:
Out Of My League with the Western Mustangs Cheerleaders
The Yates Cup, since 1898 awarded to the top Ontario university football team, is the oldest football trophy in existence. On November 12, I suited up with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs cheerleading squad at the 104th Yates Cup at TD Waterhouse Stadium.
Here I was, on national TV, in uniform with the 25-time national champion Mustangs cheerleading squad – a dynasty – and performing in front of 6,500 fans. This Houdini act – a 49-year-old cheerleader in official purple attire, megaphone in hand – was no stunt. I wasn’t streaking. I wasn’t wearing a rainbow wig and waving a John 3:16 sign.
In fact, the night before the Yates Cup, I practiced with the Mustangs at their headquarters, Power Cheer Gym. This old warehouse is a cheer cave – a cluttered, dimly-lit gymnasium housing an endless amount of championship banners and trophies.
Jeffrey Reed assists with the Double Base
Mustangs coach David-Lee Tracey, 52, is known simply as “Trace,” or “Coach Trace,” a post he has held since 1985 after cheering at Western. He drives a pickup truck – complete with steer horns – and wears cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. His cool vibe and success have made him a cheerleading guru.
At Western, cheerleading is serious business. This weekend, they’ll shoot for a 26th Canadian title at the 27th Annual University and Open National Cheerleading Championships.
So, imagine the gasps when I almost dropped cheerleader Karly Hoar while practicing the Double Base – one of two moves I was to participate in during the Yates Cup. The Double Base involves three male cheerleaders who surround a female teammate, lift her on their hands, toss her in the air then catch her before she meets the pavement.
Trace calls Hoar “the best female cheerleader tumbler in Canada.” Imagine my horror when I let this prized athlete slip out of my arms during the Double Base dismount.
Yates Cup – And I’m Sick To My Stomach
The morning of the Yates Cup, I felt sick to my stomach when I drove onto the UWO campus. My first stop was the cheerleaders’ tailgate party. The 36-member squad, led by captain Mike Wilson, dined on traditional tailgate fare, but I was too nervous to eat.
I asked Wilson if there is a stigma on campus painting cheerleading as a fringe, feminine sport. “Here at Western, we do a good job at smashing that stereotype. Once (naysayers) see what you do, you gain their respect. They’re kissing your butt to hang out with the girls,” said Wilson.
Suiting up with the squad, I could hear music and yelling coming from the football locker room as the Mustangs prepared for the McMaster Marauders. During warmup, I once again screwed up the Double Base, this time almost dropping Brooklyn Pawlick. Another move I was participating in was the Basket Toss, which called for me to stand in front of a female cheerleader, flip her in the air and then get the hell out of the way before getting kicked in the face. I mistakenly jumped away when I was supposed to catch Pawlick.
At game time, Nakema McManamna, who Trace calls “the hardest working member of my team,” made sure I wasn’t going to be a tourist while representing her squad. “Listen, I know we have cute little figures, but when you’re cheering, look at the crowd. Smile and cheer!” Fearing her, I put on my game face.
Larry Haylor huddles with his players on the sidelines at J.W. Little Memorial Stadium in 1992. Photo: Jeffrey Reed.
Larry Haylor Mistook Me For A Real Cheerleader
Just before we took the field for player introductions, I had to use the men’s room. The washroom door in the change room was locked, and the rest of the squad was already on the sidelines. I ran to the public washroom, drawing a tongue lashing from Trace.
Standing at the washroom stall, taking care of business, Larry Haylor – retired Mustangs’ head coach and winningest coach in Canadian university football history – saddled up beside me. I’ve interviewed Larry many times over the years, but he didn’t recognize me.
“Go Mustangs!” said Haylor. “You guys are worth 10 points for us today.” Classic. Today, I was a cheerleader.
There’s an incredible buzz when you’re on a football field during player introductions. We lined up in two rows as the Mustangs rushed out of their dressing room and under the large inflatable W. We then lined up at midfield as the players were introduced. What a unique rush, watching these brutes rush past me.
Player introductions in 1991. Photo by Jeffrey Reed/LondonOntarioSports.com.
I was on the field for the first quarter of the Yates Cup, which ended with the Mustangs leading 3-0. Fan reaction ranged from laughter to absolute disbelief, mouths agape and finger pointing. The student grandstand was an adventure – in particular, the section where hundreds of vociferous McMaster students used language that would make a drunken sailor blush.
“We’re headed into enemy territory,” said Trace as the squad jogged over to within a few yards of the McMaster fans. “Make sure he is protected,” said Trace to the rest of the cheerleaders who would shield me from abuse. I yelled through my megaphone, egging on the McMaster supporters. The cheerleaders did, too, pulling off some amazing high-flying stunts in the faces of the enemy. This was cheer war.
Jeffrey Reed and the Mustangs Cheerleaders
I did well with my lifts and catches during the Double Base and Basket Toss. But there wasn’t much to cheer about. McMaster clobbered the Mustangs 41-19, and went on to win their first Vanier Cup national title in double overtime with a 41-38 victory over the powerhouse Laval Rouge et Or.
One Of The Family
Something very cool happened during the second quarter of the Yates Cup. Now in my civvies after a quick change, the cheer team did not recognize me. I spotted cheerleader Alannah Bruns and waved. It took her about 30 seconds before she recognized me. Word spread, and the entire team rushed over and encircled me, happy about the reunion. This was a special moment.
The Western Mustangs cheerleaders are some of the most skilled athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing up close and personal. For one quarter of the Yates Cup, I was proud to be one of them.
Update: On Dec. 3, 2011 the Western Mustangs cheerleading squad won their 26th national title at the 27th Annual University and Open National Cheerleading Championships at the Powerade Centre in Brampton, Ont. In the Large University Co-Ed division, the Stangs scored 431.5 points en route to victory, while the University of Montreal placed second with 390.5 points. In the individual tumbling competition, Mustang Karly Hoar scored 94 points – the most of any athlete at the event – to secure victory, ahead of Jenna Jeliski of Regina with 78.5 points. In the men’s event, Mustangs Dillion Mugridge and Kurt Ford both earned podium placements. Mugridge scored 90.5 points to take the winning spot, followed by Maurice Semaan of Carleton with 84 points. Ford followed up with a close 80.5 score to assure bronze. Mustangs coach David-Lee Tracey also coached the Fanshawe College cheerleading team, the Black Falcons, to a first-place finish in the Community College division with a 364 score – more than 30 points ahead of second-place Humber College.
More Photos from the 2011 Yates Cup sidelines with the Mustangs Cheerleaders and Jeffrey Reed:
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Award-winning writer and broadcaster Jeffrey Reed is one of Canada’s longest-running sports journalists, with roots dating back to 1979. He’s also an elite disabled athlete who pitched and coached with the semi-professional London Majors Baseball Club, and worked as a golf professional and brand ambassador with Wilson Golf until his retirement in 2020. Reach him at jeff@londonontariosports.com.
