Cheerleading Competition Rocks

The SHS gymnasium was rocking at deafening decibels on Saturday 1/16 when the Scarsdale Cheerleaders hosted their fifth annual cheerleading competition. Imagine hundreds of pumped teens dancing, singing and doing hand gestures in unison to the song YMCA and you’ll get an idea of the energy level in the room.

Just a few weeks ago, the Varsity Cheerleaders feared they would not have the funds to attend the national championship in Florida on February 13-14. The team qualified for the nationals for their ninth straight year, but did not have the money to make the trip. That all changed with the tournament. Industrious team members, parents and their coaches all worked together to produce the largest cheerleading competition in Scarsdale’s history – with 38 teams in attendance.

The day began with a cheering team of girls in kindergarten through second grade, three teams of 3rd and 4th graders and another of 5th through 8th graders. Four modified teams from Putnam Valley, Eastchester, St. Francis Xavier and St. Theresa’s participated followed by a competition of eight JV teams. In the afternoon the varsity teams competition opened with an exhibition from the Scarsdale team, and featured teams from Westchester, the Bronx, Putnam and Rockland.

Since ten seniors graduated last year, this year’s Scarsdale Varsity team is young – including many talented freshman and sophomores. As the Scarsdale team does not compete at their home tournament, they were not in uniform but wore T-shirts that said, “It’s not the glitz of the uniform that matters but the spirit that shines within. With pink ribbon in their hair, they looked adorable.

The cheering routines were impressive and included athletic feats such as the pike jump, the basket toss, and the rewind twist. Girls were tossed high in the air and landed smoothly on their team members’ shoulders. Flips, rolls and energetic floor routines made for great watching from the stands. The New Rochelle team won in the modified category, St. Catharine’s took first in Junior Varsity, Eastchester came out on top for the Small Varsity competition and Lakeland was the Large Varsity winner.

Entrance fees from the tournament, as well as revenues from the ads in the program and from snacks sold that day all yielded enough to send the girls on their way to Florida. Congratulations to coaches Stacy Monteiro, Ivy Linares and Danielle Tancredi, team members and parents on a terrific event and another successful season for Scarsdale.

In the words of parent Tim Doyle, “today was a special day for the Scarsdale Raider cheerleaders! This included arriving promptly at 7:15 am this morning and hosting more than 1,000 people at the High School. More then 40 teams competed for trophies. Watching our girls in this day-long cheer extravaganza in our school gymnasium is spectacular. A huge thanks goes to all the vendors who donated their goods and the businesses who advertised in our Ad Journal.

Thank you to the Coaches, Stacy, Danielle, and Ivy plus all those parent who donated their day helping out. A special thanks to those Senior Moms who will be missed!  Oh YEAH, let’s not forget your going to Nationals!!!!!!!! Were so proud of you girls.  GOOD LUCK AT NATIONALS!!!!"