A year of hard work
culminated in two national awards for the Wheatfield Town Cheerleaders
in March.
Two cheerleading squads from the organization took
first place at a national cheerleading event on March 24 and 25
at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.
The squads were saluted Tuesday night at the Wheatfield
Community Center, where they received certificates for their victory.
The town’s recreation department and Town Board threw a party for
the Wheatfield Gems and Wheatfield Diamonds and toasted them for
being named national champions at the U.S. Spirit Competition.
Town Supervisor Timothy Demler of Wheatfield couldn’t
be any prouder of the cheerleaders, he said, commenting, “We also
want to say, thank you for representing us with pride and dignity,”
Demler said. “In all of your achievements, you have made us all
very, very proud.”
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Wheatfield Town Supervisor Timothy
Demler praised the cheerleaders during a reception Tuesday.
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The competition was the culmination
of a year of preparation and hard work by the squads, their parents,
families and friends, Demler said.
“I want to say to all of you, thank you for your effort
and your support for making Wheatfield and these teams what they
are today,” Demler said.
“There were a lot of good teams,” said Ali Gonyea,
11 of the DiamOnds. “They were mostly All-Stars, plus older teams.”
she said.
“It’s a big accomplishment to win nationals,” she
said.
Jessica Janese, 13, said she was more excited than
nervous during the routines.
“We’ve practiced really, really hard, and we’ve come
just a long way,” Janese said.
“I thought it was good just to get together again
after the big trip.”
Kari Ritz, a coach of the Diamonds, said her squad
included 31 athletes. Their routine consisted of two and a half
minutes of intense tumbling and cheering. The WTC set themselves
apart from the competition with hard work and good coaching.
“Our mounts were spectacular, our tumbling was great,
our jumps were fantastic,” Ritz said. “The girls did such a fantastic
job.”
Mary Brochey of the Wheatfield Town Cheerleaders carries the
two trophies the squads won at the U.S. Spirit Nationals cheerleading
competition. |
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Brooke
Mollosky, a coach of the Diamonds, said competition cheerleading
incorporates gymnastics, tumbling, lifting and dancing.
“And they’re putting it all together in a routine
of two minutes and 30 seconds, and kicking butt,” Mollosky
said. “Two minutes and 30 seconds to be perfect, and do it
all with a smile on your face.”
It was five years ago that Mary Brochey brought
a proposal to Demler to fund a cheerleading organization in
the town. Brochey received a standing ovation when Demler
introduced her.
“They have done what no other town has done
in this area,” Recreation Director Ed Sturgeon said of the
groups organizers. “You look around this area of Western New
York, you won’t find a recreation group that has accomplished
what this group has done.”
“Where would this whole organization be without
its leadership, with the coaches, without the organizational
staff, without those who put their time, their lives, their
families into so much of this effort?” Demler said.
Brochey said the cheerleaders come from good
families and are willing to learn what it’s like to be a teammate.
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“I think that they really do feel like sisters, and
I think that’s why their performances are so good,” Brochey said.
“That comes from what they learn from their families and their parents.”
The organization has over 100 girls, with 59 going
to the nationals, Brochey said.
Brochey said the groups performed their routines twice
each before a panel of judges.
The Gems won the Senior Rec Large Division, while
the Diamonds won the Junior Rec Division, according to the U.S.
Spirit Web site.
This was the first trip to nationals, Brochey said.
The group practices from June to December.
The Wheatfield Town Cheerleaders
recently won two national awards.
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