Cheerleading: New Ro, Put Valley, North Rockland win Section 1 titles

WHITE PLAINS - Early in New Rochelle’s routine at the Section 1 cheerleading championships at White Plains High School on Saturday, the Huguenots looked to be in trouble.

After the team split into three groups, the first stunt of the routine was flubbed by two of the three groups.

New Rochelle didn’t fold.

Instead, the team completed the rest of its highly difficult routine with few mistakes, and was able to defend its large school, small team sectional title.

“For us, it’s rewarding,” New Rochelle head coach Chrissy Stanionis said. “We were looking forward to getting back to the state championship.”

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CHEERLEADING ALL-STARS: New Rochelle's Cornelius rises to the occasion

It was a shining end for what had started out as a difficult week for the program.

After a disappointing showing at the United Cheer Association High School championships at Orlando, Florida, the team returned to New York on Tuesday.

Due to tiredness and illness, along with the quick turnaround, the team was only able to have a short practice on Thursday and a full practice on Friday to prepare for sectionals.

“We just got back from nationals and it wasn’t the best experience,” said senior Ade Cornelius. “We just wanted to come out and show that that’s not who we are.”

With the sectional title now out of the way, New Rochelle will turn its attention to states. Following last year’s controversy, which saw New Rochelle finish second despite hitting a perfect routine, the team will start practicing a brand-new routine.

“Now that we’re actually going, they are going to be hungry,” Stanionis said. “They got new stuff, and now we know how to play the game.”

With much of last year’s core, highlighted by seniors Cornelius, Zharia Crisp, Elina Morano and Zoe Saunders, returning for a second chance at the state title, there will be plenty of motivation.

“We just want to go back and show them that we can do it again,” Cornelius said of the routine. “We’re going to fight even harder for what we deserved last year.”

Putnam Valley dethrones Pearl River for small school, large team title

During November’s tryouts for the winter cheerleading season, Putnam Valley was at a crossroads.

Keep the team at 15 performers and remain in the small school, small division, but see some members on the sidelines? Or go up to 17 performers to allow more participants, but move into the small school, large division and compete against defending state champ Pearl River?

It was an easy choice for head coach Regina Albano.

“We didn’t want to leave out any seniors; we had a lot of talent, and we didn’t want to cut,” Albano said. “I don’t ever look at who my competition is, I look at what my kids have and do what’s best for them.”

Saturday’s performance confirmed that it was the correct decision.

Cleaning up its mistakes from last weekend’s performance at the Indian Rumble at Roy C. Ketcham High School and tightening up the small details, Putnam Valley managed to repeat last year’s title win, beating out second-place Pearl River for the small school, large team sectional title.

“We knew that Pearl River was in this division and they won states last year, but it worked out for the best,” senior Antonia Hoyos said. “It’s nice having a larger team; you have a bigger family, it’s really nice.”

One factor in the team’s decision to switch divisions revolved around senior Samantha Bruno.

She sat out most of the season due to a serious left ankle injury she suffered during track season in April and re-aggravated during the fall cheerleading season.

Her potential return was part of the reason Putnam Valley opted to move up to the large division.

Despite undergoing surgery on the ankle and her doctor saying that she wouldn’t be able to return to the mat at all for the winter season, Bruno was back practicing around a month and a half ago.

“I was shocked because the chances were very small, but I was honored,” Bruno said. “It showed how much I meant. There’s really no words for it.”

Putnam Valley, which won the small school, small division title last year, will head back up to Syracuse for the state championships.

Last season, the Tigers narrowly missed out on making the cut to the final round. They will be aiming for more than just getting past preliminaries.

“If we keep doing what we did this week for the next two weeks, I think that we definitely have a strong chance of breaking that top five,” Bruno said. “If we beat the defending (sectional) champions, we can do it.”

With sectional title, North Rockland fulfills Gould's wish

Before she retired at the end of the season, Lauren Gould had a special goal in mind for North Rockland to accomplish.

A Section 1 title, and the trip to the state championships that comes with it.

Tragedy, however, struck in December, when the longtime coach suddenly passed away from complications of cystic fibrosis. Since then, the season has been an emotional one for the Red Raiders.

On Saturday, the team was able to put a checkmark next to Gould's goal. Coming out with the usual flair and high-skilled maneuvers that have defined the program, North Rockland claimed the large school, large division title, winning it over defending champs Carmel, which came in second place.

"It's been a long year, a long season," said head coach Kerianne Kennelly. "They did what they needed to do today to go to states. That's all Lauren wanted, was to take this team to states. I'm sure they made her proud today."

The music in the team's routine reflects the message that Gould wanted to send out in her farewell season, opening to a song called "I've had the Time of my Life," and dancing to "Last Dance" on the dance part of the routine.

"Most of the girls on the team have known Lauren since we were five years old, and she told us at the beginning of the season that this was the last thing she needed," senior Megan Rettino said. "This music was supposed to be her good-bye, and for it to be her actual good-bye is definitely something special. Every time we do the routine, it's something that's very emotional for us, especially the seniors."

North Rockland, generally considered to be one of the elite programs in the area, did not compete at the Section 1 championships last year, instead focusing on National Cheerleaders Association High School Championships in Dallas, Texas.

Despite the program's pedigree, Rettino said there were some worries on the adjustments that had to be made for New York State competition.

"We were a little worried; we are the team that has the skills but doesn't do the skills correctly," she said. "They were supposed to crack down on execution and not just difficulty, so we were a little worried. It was nice to come out here and do really well."

With the sectional title out of the way, North Rockland will look to cross off the final goal off of Gould's wish list at the state championships.

When the team gets up to Syracuse, it will be an emotional moment, much like the rest of the season. Though it will be one that the team is prepared for.

"We're trying to make the best of everything that's happened," Rettino said. "Big competitions, they have a bigger gym, the environment is louder, the stage is darker. But we've been through that kind of experience before."

In the other divisions, Eastchester claimed the small school, small division title, with Nanuet coming in second place, while in the co-ed/mixed division, Ketcham took first place, with John Jay-East Fishkill coming in second.

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