BY RYAN O'CONNOR
First-year Central cheerleading coach Alison Kivikoski couldn’t stop smiling.
The Little Green had just finished their routine at the New Hampshire Fall Spirit Championship on Sunday, Nov. 4, and she was elated with what she saw.
“They’ve had a tough season, a lot of injuries, and nerves and stuff like that, and they were really, really wanting to do well, so I am just thrilled,” she said. “All their stunts hit, all their tumbling hit, and I am just so proud of them.”
Central finished with 162 points, good for seventh place among 18 competing teams in Class L.
Each team’s four-minute routine was scored on jumps, tumbling, stunting and dance.
Though the squad failed to place in the top three, Kivikoski said the transition-year performance is a positive sign of things to come.
Featured on the current Little Green team are seniors Laura Gagne and Tiffany Sweeney; juniors Brianna Clayton, Cassidy Clayton, Nina Demaro, Arianna DeMinico, Stephanie Duval, Jessica Huertas, Meagan Lachance and Brittani MacLean; sophomores Taylor Boucher, Amanda Graham, Kathryn Purdy and Taylor Stone; and freshmen Samantha Houle and Brittany West.
Central, which has two fall championships since 1996 and four second-place finishes, looks to follow up on the positive showing when it participates in February at the winter spirit championship.
Memorial
Manchester Memorial High School finished 11th in the competition, overcoming injuries and other obstacles.
“We had a really hard time this morning, and we had a couple girls injured, and they pulled it off considering what was going on,” said head coach Kim Mailhot. “I think we held our own. I really do.”
Three injuries forced two Memorial cheerleaders to miss the competition and the squad to revamp its routine at the last minute.
The 2007 Lady Crusaders include seniors Chantel Acevedo, Kendra Brown, Christa Cody and Katelyn Trombley; juniors Nicole Mailhot, Meredith Nash, and Nicole St. Hilaire; sophomores Sara Bienvenue, Courtney Bournival, Marta Bowen, Ahley Chatmakas, Rachael Lewis, Madison Neveu and Lauren Tully; and freshmen Kelly Borges, Ashley Butkus, Katelyn L’Heureaux and Brianna Mazalewski.
West
The Blue Knights chose a routine centered on patriotism.
“It was to honor America and all we are going through right now,” said head coach Sherri Reinfurt. “I wanted to make a statement out there.”
At the end of the routine, several squad members joined in the center of the mat, backs to the crowd and formed the stars and stripes of the American flag, drawing rousing applause from those in attendance.
Though her squad finished 16th among 18 Class L teams, Reinfurt said she was more than pleased with the effort.
“It wasn’t their best performance, but they went out there with a big heart, and that’s all you can do in these competitions,” she said.
Not all cheerleaders on the fall squad return for the winter season, while others will join. Those competing at the fall championship included seniors Emily Bennett, Stephanie Green, Caitlin Hodgman, Alyssa Mixon and Bethany Moreau; juniors Shanna Clement, Dylan Delay, Elise Gagnon, Beth Glennon, Megan McGorry, Katelyn Quiet and Britani Stewart; and sophomores Holly Bishop, Tamara Fleccia, Meagn McLynch and Meagan Upham.