“Self-esteem
Blue and yellow
White and gold
We don’t hold back
We got it like that
We are the couga cougars
We are the best
We got the skills, the team, and the self-esteem...”
These cheers were shouted out by the Lady Cougars Cheerleading Team on Saturday, April 25, at the Step and Cheerleading Competition at Christ the King High School in Queens. That Saturday was the day our outstanding cheerleaders were anticipating as they took home 2nd place in the Junior Varsity Cheerleading Competition.
Cheerleader Kristeen Saint-Laurent, Class of 2011, said, “When we won 2nd place at the competition, I was happy for my team because I knew that we all worked hard, put effort into our routine and did the best we could.”
The cheerleaders were filled with anxiety as well as excitement. The crowd was blown away with their stylish cheer wardrobes and their wise choice of the school colors: blue and yellow, white and gold.
Unfortunately, not all of the cheerleaders made it to the competition since some were participating in the Speech state championships in Albany.
When the Lady Cougars cheerleaders were being called first, my heart started racing rapidly. I was just as nervous as they were. The cheerleaders came and did their wonderful, exquisite cheers.
The crowds behind me were chanting out, “Cougars! Cougars!” I had been chanting “Let’s go St. Joseph’s!! Whooo!!!”
The Lady Cougars’ routine was flawless. The cheerleaders did lifts, splits and rolls. Cheerleader Brittany Duffy, Class of 2011, did a split in the air as well as Cheerleader Andrea Irias, who is also from the Class of 2011. All of their hard work and staying late for practices had really paid off.
“Practices usually lasted about two hours. During spring break we spent everyday in practice for a little over three hours, sometimes. But it was always fun,” said Brittany Duffy.
“The captains and the coach helped us with the cheers,” stated Saint Laurent, referring to co-captains Krystal Padmore, Denise Thomas, and Chareither Billups and Coach Deb.
Congratulations to the following Cheerleaders: Andrea Irias, Chareither Billups, Brittany Duffy, Catherine Moreno, Christine Gonzalez, Denise Thomas, Cynthia Fontaine, Ivett Cardenas, Justine Rodriguez, Kha-D-Sha McKain, Kristeen Saint-Laurent, Krystal Padmore, Liliana Almonte, Louise Comberland, Natalie Rosario, Shanick Milord, Talesha Houston, Taryn Thompson, and Tiffany Cole.
The Lady Cougars’ cheers tell a lot about them. They have the skills, the team, and the self-esteem.
“Fontbonne is very experienced but next year we’re beating they’re butts!” said Kristeen Saint-Laurent.