Over 1,300 athletes competed Saturday in the inaugural Louisiana High School Athletics Association dance and cheer state championship at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

“It has way exceeded our goals,” said Varsity Brands spokeswoman Jennifer Sword. “We never expected to have over 1,300 participants.”

It was the third-largest participatory championship event in LHSAA history, behind the outdoor track and cross country championships.

St. Louis Catholic placed fourth in the timeout cheer competition, Leesville was fifth and the St. Louis JV took sixth.

In the fight song event, St. Louis placed fifth, Leesville took sixth and the St. Louis JV was seventh.

In the timeout dance competition, Leesville placed ninth and the St. Louis JV took 10th.

In the junior varsity division, Sam Houston took top honors. The Broncos also placed fourth in the large varsity event.

Sulphur High placed third in the hip hop dance competition and fourth in the jazz event.

Results

CHEERLEADING

• Timeout Cheer — 1, Ruston, 94; 2, Cecilia, 89; 3, Erath, 87.63; 4, St. Louis, 71.5; 5, Leesville, 67.75; 6, St. Louis JV, 59.13.

• Fight Song — 1, Ruston, 90.63; 2, Erath, 82.75; 3, Holy Cross, 81.63; 4, Opelousas Catholic, 75; 5, St. Louis, 74.88; 6, Leesville, 74.25; 7, St. Louis JV, 73.13.

• Timeout Dance — 1, Dutchtown, 88.5; 2, Hahnville, 85.88; 3, Erath, 83.88; 4, Ruston, 81.63; 5, Opelousas Catholic, 80; 5, Brother Martin, 80; 7, Cecilia, 75.38; 8, Quitman, 70; 9, Leesville, 69.5; 10, St. Louis JV, 68.13.

• Large Co-ed — 1, Brother Martin, 88.13; 2, Erath, 74.25; 3, Jesuit, 74.23.

• Small Co-ed — 1, Shaw, 78.38; 2, Holy Cross, 75.95; 3, Zachary, 71.63; 4, Vandebilt Catholic, 69.5; 5, Rummel, 69; 6, Slidell, 66.63.

• Non-Tumbling — 1, Ruston, 84.25; 2, Loranger, 80.25; 3, Salmen, 80.13; 4, Choudrant, 75.13; 5, Northlake Christian, 74.5; 6, Quitman, 63.38; 7, Warren Easton, 62.13; 8, Walker, 58.88; 9, St. James, 48.63.

• Junior Varsity Non-Tumbling — 1. St. Scholastica, 65.88.

• Junior Varsity — 1, Sam Houston 67; 2, St. James 44.5.

• Small Varsity — 1, Parkview Baptist, 79.18; 2, West Monroe, 78.63; 3, St Michael, 72.55; 4, Dutchtown, 69; 5, West Ouachita, 63.

• Medium Varsity — 1, Live Oak, 85.38; 2, Ouachita Parish, 80.63; 3, Hahnville, 74.5; 4, NISH, 74.25; 5, Hannan, 69.

• Large Varsity — 1, Fontainbleau, 79.43; 2, Evangel, 77.1; 3, Denham Springs, 75.75; 4, Sam Houston, 69.25; 5, St Josephs, 67.45; 6, Minden, 59.98.

• Super Varsity — 1, Mount Carmel, 78.75; 2, Lakeshore, 77.38; 3, St Paul, 73.13.

DANCE

• Pom Pom — 1, Lakeshore, 87.75.

• Hip Hop — 1, St. Thomas Aquinas, 85.63; 2, Ruston, 81.38; 3, Sulphur, 74.28; 4, North DeSoto, 66.75.

• Jazz — 1, St. Thomas Aquinas, 89.65; 2, Lakeshore, 87.05; 3, Hannan, 83.83; 4, Sulphur, 73.73; 5, North DeSoto, 71.45.

The St. Louis Catholic cheerleading team competes in the timeout cheer event during the inaugural LHSAA State Cheer and Dance Championships Saturday at the Civic Center. (KAREN WINK / AMERICAN PRESS)

K Wink