ST. ANTHONY'S ATHLETICS

ST. ANTHONY'S ATHLETICS

ST. ANTHONY'S ATHLETICS

ST. ANTHONY'S HIGH SCHOOL, NY Franciscan Brothers

ST. ANTHONY'S HIGH SCHOOL, NY Franciscan Brothers

ST. ANTHONY'S HIGH SCHOOL, NY Franciscan Brothers

Logo for stanthonyshighschoolny_bigteams_37925

ST. ANTHONY'S ATHLETICS

x icon

ST. ANTHONY'S ATHLETICS

ST. ANTHONY'S HIGH SCHOOL, NY Franciscan Brothers

Logo for stanthonyshighschoolny_bigteams_37925

ST. ANTHONY'S ATHLETICS

logo x

ST. ANTHONY'S ATHLETICS

ST. ANTHONY'S HIGH SCHOOL, NY Franciscan Brothers

Girls Varsity Cheerleading


Headlines.

CHEERLEADING – The Squad of Spirit, Stunts, and Strength -
4.0 years ago

Cheerleading is a sport that does not always get the accolades its deserves! A varsity sport that boast three teams and over 25 athletes on each squad and covers two seasons. They train five days a week and compete one, just like all varsity sports.  

Cheerleading kicks off in August with three days of tryouts and it is not for the weak at heart. The young ladies are expected to have high spirits, high ponytails and high jumps. Their backgrounds are dance and gymnastics generally and all three level head coaches and assistants are at full attention to detail. With over 110 ladies trying out for only 75 spots between Varsity, JV and Freshman the competition is tough.


Freshmen, Varsity and JV fall squads

Once you’re lucky to be called a Friar Cheerleader, practice begins the next day and regardless of the team,the expectations are high. In the fall you are cheering at every home football game and learning over 30 different cheers, chants, tumbling and stunt routines that you must know without warming. Varsity performs these formations in front of 1000 people every Friday or Saturday in the fall.  Homecoming can reach standing room only and the crowd usually exceeds 2500 fans. Pony-Tails better be tight, uniforms spotless and routine flawless. The SA Cheer squad is at their best this night and the crowd loves it.

At Homecoming, don’t be surprised if you actually see 30 different formations and you will have all three squads represented this night. These talented young ladies have been working three months to showcase their spirit and keep the crowd excited. The halftime show is set to music and filled with back handsprings, side aerials and pyramid stunts it goes off without a hitch and keeps the crowd fully engaged. Head Coach Alysse LoPresti states, “In the fall this is what we are working toward. The team has gelled together by this time and the confidence these girls have that night is what we are all about. I’m always so proud of them.” 

Cheerleading is not for the soft hearted type of girl because your level of confiance has to be at all time high, your nerves have to be like steal and you have to be tough, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE! Now that they have their emotions in check you can’t doze off, you have to know your line position for each cheer (30 to choose from), you have to keep the Flyer safe and the Flyer has to know her count and what is coming next. 

When football is done the ladies do not miss a beat and move right into winter season and cheer at every home basketball game and most away. But WAIT, winter is a 2 for 1 season. COMPETITION SEASON and basketball season for all three levels. The goal is not only to keep the basketball crowds engaged, but raise the level of performances with elite stunts and tumbling in order to qualify for the CHSAA State Cheer Competition and Nationals. CHEERLEADING IS NO JOKE! 

Senior Captions Emily Araco, Aidan Boulton and Lia Manfre who have been on varsity for three years and Manfre four know the demands well. “It’s not easy being a captain of 26 girls and leading your own pears in high school. Said Coach LoPresti. “I expect my captains to be a model leaders with great skills.”

“We have seen the dedication and hard work improve over the last couple of years and the rewards of hitting our stunts at nationals and making it to the finals. There is nothing better! Said Manfre. Winter season the number of flips increases for each girl, pattern formations become more intricate and are set to music and perfection is their new first name. “Cheering for all of us is more than pom poms and standing on the sideline we become sisters. With all the broken bones, concussions and mishaps in a season and over the years, we go through a lot together” Stated Boulton.

For the first time at St. Anthony’s, Freshman will travel to competition and it’s JV’s third year competing for accolades. Varsity must perform in three CHSAA comps to qualify for States on February 2, 2020 at Queen College. Nationals is held at Walt Disney in Orlando, Florida February 8th and 9th. They only have 2 opportunities to qualify for Nationals making winter a little more intense. This year they earned their bid at the first regional event at the Pocono Regional on Nov. 24th. Senior Emily Araco, “is very proud of this team and I know we are leaving it in a good place. We have come to depend on each other on and off the matts. I’m going to really miss it all.”

Going into champs they have captured a 1st, 5th and 2nd at the Nassau-Suffolk Regional on Nov. 17th, Pocono Regional on Nov. 24th, and Brooklyn-Queen regional on Dec. 15th respectfully. Their schedule totals six competitions in the winter plus basketball games. The winter season for cheerleading is more demanding than most can imagine, no other sport can say they have 2 seasons in one.

When asked what makes them love this sport from coach to athletes it’s agreed, “The excitement of hitting the stunts and having a perfect routine and the things we experience together, we have to work as one unit, day after day. It can’t be explained clearly it becomes who we are”  -The Captains

So the next time you are at the games remember the bond and hard work these young ladies put in and when they ask you to stand up and show your Friar Pride, cheer just a little louder.

Come join this amazing team this summer at the Friar Cheer Camp now offering programs for elementary age girls through high school. 

By Scoreboard Writer - Alex Rocco is a senior at St. Anthony’s High School, writing for his fourth year with the Friar Scoreboard.  He plans to study Sports Communications in college and pursue a career in Sports Media. He is also a member of NHS, SALT, Friar Faithful, Special Needs Ministry and Franciscan Youth Ministry. Jan. 20,202

Back
https://friarathletics.org