Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website
Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website
St. John’s University’s Red Storm Cheer team concluded its 2024-25 competitive season with a championship victory, setting high expectations for the future. The team, consisting of 28 members, outperformed several other teams in the Small Coed Division I Game Day category at the Universal Dance Association and Universal Cheer Association National Championships held in Orlando, Florida from January 17 to January 19.
Coach Anna Tambouras expressed pride in her team's performance at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. “They were outstanding,” Coach Tambouras stated. “They are a great team of determined athletes who were focused on winning and performing their best. We are all so proud of them.”
The national event brought together competitors from across the country, where St. John’s demonstrated innovative choreography and strong team spirit. After placing second in each of the previous two years, this year marked a significant achievement for the team.
Senior Makayla O’Donnell reflected on the season's success: “I knew from the beginning of this season that if any team from St. John’s was going to win, it was this one,” she said. “After finishing second in each of the past two years, the upperclassmen came back with extreme passion, and that rubbed off on the newcomers this year.” She added, “I know it is my final experience, but I hope it is just the beginning of what is to come for the athletes that follow.”
The cheer teams were judged based on stunting and tumbling skills, crowd-leading ability, and teamwork. The Red Storm achieved a final score of 93.6 points and placed sixth with a score of 90.5 in the overall Small Coed Division I Game Day Finals.
Meanwhile, dance teams were evaluated on choreography, technique, execution, and overall effect. St. John’s Dance team secured third place in Division I Dance Game Day Finals with a score of 88.8 points and ranked tenth among 31 teams in Division I Jazz competition with a score of 83.9 points.
Both St. John’s Cheer and Dance teams regularly perform at Red Storm basketball games and practice three times weekly from August through New Year’s Day, intensifying their sessions before national competitions.
“People might not realize how athletic cheer and dance are,” Coach Tambouras noted. “They are very dedicated to what they do.”
Alerts Sign-up