Argos Cheerleaders a Winning Team
By Dave Fuller
The Toronto Sun
Not sure what the Toronto Argonauts will look like this year, but their never-say-die cheerleading squad is built for success.
They’ve even hired a head coach, former cheerleader Jorie Brown, who has almost as many players on her team as Argos field general Jim Barker.
“I think I have an important job, but I’m not sure it’s comparable to the head coach of the Argonauts,” Brown laughed during Monday’s Argo website photo shoot at the Argonaut Rowing Club. “Our jobs are similar and different at the same time. I get to deal with 34 girls. Maybe girls are a little bit more difficult to deal with.”
This is Jessica’s third-year on the cheerleading team but she still feels the occasional jitters.
“You’re a little bit nervous every time you walk on the field,” she said. “But once you get out there, and hear the crowd and see your friends and family in the stands, it’s so much fun.”
While the cheerleaders have two official rehearsals on Mondays and Wednesdays, you don’t get to look this good eating pizza and watching TV.
“On our own time we take hot yoga, spinning classes, body attack, body pump – my favourite – and I also teach a Zumba class, a latin-inspired aerobics class,” said Crystal, who is returning to the team after a six-year absence.
As for team photographer, Craig Boyko, it’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.
“We started at 7 a.m. and probably won’t be done before 10 p.m.,” Boyco said. “The toughest part is keeping your energy level up. Some girls are new and you want to give each girl the same opportunity. I don’t want to be tired for one or the other.”
