(Editor’s note: This is the second article in a series of CYO Varsity division cheer stories SILive.com will focus on leading up the Island championships in March.)
With many youth cheerleaders moving on to compete in high school, especially on Staten Island, each CYO program certainly does everything it can to help its athletes progress.
Part of that process, of course, are coaches who listen to their athletes’ needs and, sometimes, even wants. In fact, even the best ideas can come from an unlikely source.
Don’t believe it? Just ask St. Clare’s varsity cheer coaches.
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St. Clare’s debuts new Game Day team as it looks to make noise at Nationals
The Crusaders, partially at the request of its varsity roster, debuted their Game Day team this season. Competing alongside their 19-girl traditional team, the 21-athlete gameday roster has competed at several local and UCA competitions over the last few months.
Most importantly, however, the Great Kills school earned bids in both routines to compete at the National High School Cheerleading Competition in two weeks.
“Last year, we were at a Warren Hills competition and the girls were watching Game Day routines when they came up to us and asked if they could do it,” laughed coach Dorothy Scarabaggio. “That was the first seed, but then we went to Nationals and we really saw potential in gameday. We also knew it could help our traditional routine with being tight and going back to basics.
The Crusaders will compete both its traditional and gameday routines at the National High School Cheerleading Competition later this month. (Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)(Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)
“It was definitely a hard decision, putting a whole second routine on these young kids, but we knew the girls really wanted to do it and we wanted to give ourselves a challenge. It was definitely worth it in the end.”
However, with the coaches not having any experience in the division, there were multiple challenges learning the nuances of the routine.
“From the outside looking in, you assume it’s easy since it’s just doing motions and no crazy stunts. But there’s so many little things that, the first time we got a scoresheet, the comments were things we didn’t even think about,” added Jennifer John. “Now, towards the second half of our season, we’re more tapped into what they’re looking for.”
The Crusaders will compete both its traditional and gameday routines at the National High School Cheerleading Competition later this month. (Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)(Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)
While the team got better throughout the season, two people that helped the program navigate Game Day were alumnae Lilly Dimino and Sophia Guglielmetti. The college freshmen, who both cheered at Notre Dame Academy and were part of the Gators’ first Game Day team, currently cheer for St. John’s University and Monmouth University respectively.
“They taught us everything we know, including the scoresheets,” John said. “They’ve read and explained it to us, and they taught us all the little rules like what props we needed and when we can or can’t tumble. Just so many things no one really knows about [until they do it].”
One aspect that sets the girls in blue and gold apart, however, is the inclusion of three fifth-graders in its routine. While junior high teams typically range from 6th to 8th grade, the coaches felt there were multiple benefits in upgrading the trio to the “big leagues.”
The Crusaders will compete both its traditional and gameday routines at the National High School Cheerleading Competition later this month. (Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)(Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)
“Their older sisters are on our team, and one actually stepped in for us [in traditional] last year when we had an injury. They’re just insane for their age and so energetic that it was a no-brainer since they’d be [going to Nationals] with their families anyways,” said Laura Maiorano, with Victoria Claudio and Bianca Palumbo rounding out the staff. “Also, for us to compete in Large for Game Day (which has up to 30 girls on the floor), we knew we couldn’t be on the smaller side because it’s all about crowd-leading.
“We needed to be in the 20s, so they brought us to 21.”
Now, with two routines to focus on, the coaching staff emphasized the need to focus on simplicity and playing to the Crusaders’ strengths.
“We think we’ve learned over the past couple years, as coaches, that complexity doesn’t always equal greatness,” said Scarabaggio. “We’re not going to throw something into the routine if it’s not almost perfect, and we’re not taking chances. I think the girls are much more confident because of it, especially with two routines.
Finally, finishing in 19th place last year at UCA Nationals, the squad has high hopes of making some noise in the Sunshine State.
“For Game Day, we want to be the first team to make finals for elementary. We’re very excited to be the first [from Staten Island] to do it, but it would be so cool to be the first and make finals,” emphasized John. “For traditional, we just want to hit. I want the girls to feel fulfilled and be happy with what they put out there, because last year they weren’t happy at all.
“We have a really mature team of eight eight-graders, seven who went to Nationals last year, so we hope they stay calm, cool, and collected while being leaders for the sixth and fifth graders. Now, they know exactly what’s going to happen and what to expect so they can prepare themselves and be ready for the moment.”
The Crusaders will compete both its traditional and gameday routines at the National High School Cheerleading Competition later this month. (Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)(Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)
CHEERLEADER’S CORNER
The Staten Island Advance/SILIVE.com, to highlight some of the young cheerleaders spending multiple days a week practicing and preparing for competition, spoke with eighth-grade backspots Chloe Calcagno and Olivia Napolitano to get their thoughts on Nationals.
What’s your favorite part of competing in Game Day?
CC: Probably the cheer – it’s really loud and entertaining. Everyone’s peppy and cheering each other on, and when we do our callbacks they’re really loud and gets the audience going.
ON: My favorite is the band chant – I think it’s very upbeat and it’s very exciting for me to do.
What are you looking forward to most when you’re in Disney?
CC: Seeing if we make it to Finals and moving on – we didn’t do the best last year, but I think we really have a chance to make it this [time].
ON: Same for me – I want to make Finals this year. I’m looking forward to seeing how we do because we worked really hard this year and I hope we make it.
What’s one pre-competition ritual you have?
CC: I get a Starbucks strawberry acai refresher and a Bacon, Gouda and Egg sandwich.
ON: I get a Starbucks iced matcha with a bacon egg and cheese in the morning.
The Crusaders will compete both its traditional and gameday routines at the National High School Cheerleading Competition later this month. (Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)(Annie DeBiase for the Advance/SILive.com)