Cheerleading got underway in Montreal on Saturday afternoon for the Gaiters, where they took part in FCQ Adrenaline's "Brise la glaçe" competition. This marked the first competitive action the Gaiters have seen on the mat since March. 15 weeks of training and practiced culminated into a single routine that the team had 2 opportunities to perform. Returning for her second year as the team's head coach, Seve Janelle was excited for a taste of competition: "considering it is a November competition. In the cheer world November is pretty early, since the season starts around September. We also had a few obstacles in our way throughout the beginning of season and so a few changes had to be made last minute. The girl's reaction to those was really professional and allowed us to move on quickly." The team is accustomed to starting the tour in the new year, but a November competition helps get the team some valuable experience. A few athletes were battling the flu just last week, so there was some uncertainty. "The girls did absolutely amazing," Janelle said when talking about their first chance to compete this school year.

The team felt they warmed up well – they hit all their moves and were confident heading into the first run of their routine. Seve said "First run was to get the nerves out. It was the first time these girls competed together, and they killed it," and was incredibly pleased with the overall performance. Some athletes came off the mat feeling like they had something to prove. The second run of their routine went about as smoothly as it could have gone for the team – Seve and the athletes alike were extremely pleased with the effort. "The second run, the girls knew what to expect and it went even better," she added when sharing her thoughts about the competition, "Next step is to get back in the gym and take our routine up a level by upgrading our routine and making sure the girls are ready for Jan 29th". January 29th is the day the Gaiters return to competition, this time at Centre de Congrès de Saint-Hyacinthe.  For all information and results regarding Saturday's competition, click here.

Follow the Gaiters cheerleading program up close on Instagram @GaitersCHR. For updates on all things Bishop's Gaiters, follow @BishopsGaiters on social media or at www.gaiters.ca.