The St-Louis Academy arsenal cheerleaders proudly wore their white jackets embroidered with the word “Champion” on Monday, as well as their gold medals they scooped up just over a week ago at the prestigious Orlando Florida championship.
A very tough competition in which the two teams from the Quebec School defeated athletes from around the world for the junior (6th grade elementary to 3rd grade secondary) and senior (4th and 5th grade secondary) titles ) to win ” category (excluding floor exercises).
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One of the Quebec City St-Louis Academy Arsenal cheerleading teams as they compete during the World Championships at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando in February 2023.
These medals are the result of years of effort by Arsenal teams who debuted in 2013 in what was a contentious championship on ESPN Wide World of Sports.
The girls had had good results over the years, notably finishing second and third. But they never managed to climb to the first step of the podium.
“When we won, I didn’t understand anything… said Isabella Pellerin. I saw everyone celebrate, but I didn’t understand what happened.”
teams “everywhere”
Still, Arsenal cheerleaders are used to big honors. Last year in particular, five teams from the school took first place in the provincial championships of the Réseau du sport sportif du Québec (RSEQ).
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The cheerleading athletes from the arsenal of Quebec’s St-Louis Academy celebrated their World Championship win with a visit to Disney World amusement park in Orlando.
Except that obviously nothing compares to the World Championships, where there were “teams all over the place, big teams everywhere” that the athletes “weren’t used to”.
“It was stressful!” Cachemire Bédard, who believes that the many competitions the academy has participated in over the years have helped prepare the teenage girls for this big moment.
pay for expertise
And for the coaches who have been involved in the program for years, this major triumph rewards years of effort trying to be at the forefront and guiding their athletes to differentiate themselves.
Because in the United States, “chanting,” or calling out the team’s name and colors, has always been an integral part of cheerleading routines, they explain.
In Quebec, “it’s coming back, and we’re a bit of a precursor,” Catherine Guimont said.
“It was a long process, spanning several years, to get to this type of cheerleading. These investments have made us better [au Championnat du monde]’ she remarked.
“We instill a culture of work ethic that is about more than results. We try to keep them focused to instill in them beautiful values that they can keep outside of their sport, stressed Geneviève Lafrance. And even better when it translates into results.”
The Collège Charles-Lemoyne in Longueuil also took part in the competition. The high school won second place in the Medium Varsity Non Tumbling category.
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