BY AVERY PERSON
Sports Page Editor
The newly co-ed cheerleading team had a successful fall season, placing first in all five competitions with their co-ed traditional routine, including GMCs and two regional competitions. The Game Day squad also won GMC and Regional Championships, meaning both groups have qualified for Nationals.
The team made it to the Universal Cheerleading Association National Tournament last year, and they hope to dominate in their new co-ed traditional division this year. “Adding the boys to our team completely changes our score sheets, stunts, and difficulty,” said senior Lillian Antar. “It’s a whole new playing field.”
Baily Datz, Sebastian Roa, and Yusuf Samra, the school’s first male cheerleaders, joined the team in the fall. “It was hard in the beginning and took some adjusting from the boys and the girls,” said senior Samara.
The boys had to learn a whole new set of skills to contribute to their new sport. “The coach got me to go to a Rutgers clinic,” said Datz. “That’s when I thought throwing girls and flipping was so cool that I decided to do cheer.”
The addition of male cheerleaders required everyone to learn to work together as a cohesive unit while also changing the routine and competing in different divisions. “The boys are cheering for the first time, so it’s been a group effort to help them out as they navigate the cheer world,” added Antar.
Adding boys required the team to incorporate additional skills new to both the cheerleaders and the coaches. “We had to make our routine fit to a different score sheet than we’re used to,” said senior Heather Clarke.
Flyers Emily D’Alessio, Kendall Nebbia, Amber Bohn, Carly Arnold, and Ireland Pouliot complete their dismounts from the pyramid. 
Flyers Emily D’Alessio, Kendall Nebbia, Amber Bohn, Carly Arnold, and Ireland Pouliot complete their dismounts from the pyramid. 
Flyers Emily D’Alessio, Kendall Nebbia, Amber Bohn, Carly Arnold, and Ireland Pouliot simultaneously pose during the pyramid sequence.
On October 22, the team kicked off the competition season by placing first at the Game Day GMC White Division Championship. “It was great because we had lost the year before,” said senior Amber Bohn. “To come back and regain the title was amazing.”
The Co-ed Traditional and Game Day squads both placed first at the Burlington Competition on November 5. “That was such a nice win because we are very close with the Burlington team and have an amazing friendship with them,” said Samara.
On November 12, the co-ed traditional team placed first while the Game Day team placed second in the North Beast Championship. “It was nothing new for us,” said Antar. “We just needed to go out there and hit the routines that we practice tirelessly every day, and that’s exactly what we did.”
Six days later, on November 18, both squads earned bids to Nationals when the co-ed routine earned first place and Game Day placed fifth in the Northeast Regionals in Trenton. “It’s been really important to us to take everything one step at a time, and make sure we stay focused on the little details,” said Bohn.
Although they had already qualified for Nationals the team traveled to Pennsylvania on December 3 for a chance to compete against the best competition available, including New Oxford who placed 6th at Nationals last year “It was a huge honor because they’re obviously a good team,” said Datz. Both Game Day and co-ed traditional took first place.
On December 10, in Woodbridge, the Co-Ed Traditional team won the GMC Tournament, beating all Red and White Division teams. “It was a good feeling because we put in upgrades,” said Datz. “It was the first-time putting backflips in the routine.”
The Co-ed Traditional squad currently stands undefeated as they prepare for Nationals. “It’s such a great feeling, and I especially think it’s going to help us build confidence and get rid of our nerves before Nationals,” said Samara.
Going to Nationals provides an exciting opportunity for the squad. “It feels great making it to Nationals with my team,” said Clarke. “We are very excited to work hard and give our all at Nationals.”
The cheerleaders plan to adjust their performance for the Nationals and do whatever they can to improve before leaving for Florida. “We are upgrading our routine to harder skills and working to perfect them,” said Clarke.
The team’s success so far this year has set them up to make a momentous run as they seek to win their first ever National Championship in Orlando February 9-12.
Posted on 1/23/24
Photos by Lors Photography and Tim O’Neill
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