Town gives three cheers for
championship cheering squads
Jackson Pop Warner
teams find success

JERRY WOLKOWITZ Cheerleaders from the Jackson Pop Warner youth football league enjoy a parade in their honor as their family members and friends celebrate national titles won by two squads in Orlando, Fla.

in Orlando, Fla.

By joyce blay

Staff Writer

Lightning doesn’t usually strike twice in the same place, but the Jackson Pop Warner Jr. PeeWees Red and Black cheerleading squads proved to be the exception. Both squads made it to the national competition held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and on Dec. 12 both squads won their respective division’s national championship.

At the Jackson Township Committee meeting on Dec. 23, both squads were recognized for their achievements.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I’m pleased and honored to present our first national championship cheerleading teams. They are the national champions," said Committeeman Michael Brod-erick, who served as mayor in 2002, announcing the entrance of the first cheerleading squad, the Jackson Pop Warner Black PeeWees Small Cheer Squad, composed of 17 girls age 10-12.

As the girls filed into the meeting room, dressed in black, red and white cheerleading outfits, their hair done up in pony tails with coordinated colors, and a single medal worn about their necks, they lined up in front of the audience assembled before them as Broderick asked, "Girls, how do you feel?"

"We feel good, we feel so good, all right!" the girls chanted.

But Broderick was still curious.

"How do you feel?" he asked again.

At this cue, an even larger group of girls entered the room and formed a complementary bank of cheerleaders alongside the Black squad.

Composed of 34 girls age 8-10, the Jackson Pop Warner Red Jr. PeeWees Large Cheer Squad was similarly dressed in black, red and white uniforms, but their hair was done up in two pigtails, and all wore several medals about their necks representing the multiple victories that had brought them to their most important win.

"We feel good, we feel so good, all right!" said the girls in a chant that echoed the Black squad’s exuberant reply to Broderick’s query.

Holding up a proclamation, Broderick announced the twin victories of both squads to the proud parents gathered before him.

"This proclamation will be engraved with the name of each member of the Black and Red squad," said Broderick "They are the first national cheerleading champions, but they also strive for academic excellence as well."

As excited parents rushed up to snap photos of the children in their uniforms, flanked by members of the committee, Broderick told the girls, "Keep up the good work; we want to see you back here next year."

"Awwww, thank you!" chanted the entire group in appreciation.

The Jackson Pop Warner Junior Pee Wee Red cheer squad members are Chelsea Balazinski, Cortney Berg, Nichole Buckholz, Grace Cairns, Samantha Carfora, Kayla Cetnar, Raechel Chagrin, Heather Croke, Christina Cutrone, Ashley Dabrio, Amanda Dorn, Meagan Franz, Ashley Georgiano, Megan Guilfoyle, Rebecca Henrich, Brittany Leddy, Frankie Leotsakos, Morgan Lowrey, Alyssa Lubertazzi, Chelsea McDermott, Christine McNally, Samantha Miner, Jillian Ostek, Emily Perry, Lindsay Renn, Carley Sabatini, Kaitlyn Sharkey, Amanda Stevenson, Taryn Thomore, Mackenzie Troche, Christina Valentine, Danielle Vernon, Victoria Vetterl and Samantha Wioland.

The head coach of the Red squad is Robin Ostek. The assistant coaches are Donna Snook, Jaime Zicha and Kelli Zicha. The student demonstrators are Alicia Zicha and Shaina Chagrin.

The Jackson Pop Warner Junior Pee Wee Black cheer squad members are Nicole Caroccia, Samantha Citron, Chloe Collins, Erica Dabrio, Briana DeJesus, Caitlin Eichhorn, Kellyann Fitzpatrick, Geena Gladysiewicz, Christina Green, Ashley Gruning, Allison Larsen, Taylor Lopez, Alison Martin, Kayla Sabatini, Gabriella Squeo, Danielle Sturman and Christine Weniger.

The head coach of the Black squad is Dana Citron. The assistant coaches are Kelley Caroccia, Maria Freitas and Colleen Sabatini. The student demonstrators are Danielle Cardona and Keira Jordan.

The two squads cheer on their respective football teams throughout August, September, October and November, and prepare for their own cheerleading competitions beginning in late October using a routine with choreographed music that is put together and taught to the girls by their coaches and high school demonstrators.

The girls must also maintain passing grades since Pop Warner is a scholastic program as well as a sports one, stressing academic excellence in addition to athletic accomplishment.

Both coaches attributed the dual win to a group effort, but no matter what their role in achieving the titles won by both squads, they were heady with the thrill of winning not one, but two national championships.

"It’s a dream come true," said Citron. "It’s the first time a Jackson cheer squad ever took the regional or the nationals. Now we would like to cheer for the world championship!"

A parade honoring both cheerleading squads was held on the evening of Dec. 27 at the Jackson Mills firehouse.