Redbirds soar into role of national champions
Junior Midgets and Midgets recognized for stellar season
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

UPPER FREEHOLD - The weather outside was frightful, but that didn't stop most of themembers of theAllentown Redbirds Midgets and Junior Midgets from attending the Jan. 17 Township Committee meeting to receive recognition for their triumphs in the national championships this year. The Junior Midgets placed third in the Pop Warner National Cheer and Dance Competition held last month in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and the Midgets won both the national championship and the competition's National Spirit of Sportsmanship award.

Mayor Stephen Alexander told the cheerleaders that they would accomplish many things in their lives, but they would always remember that they were national champions.

"It's an incredible feat, and makes this town very proud," he said.

Among the proud parents in attendance was Committeeman StanleyMoslowski Jr, who has daughters on both squads. After the ceremony, everyone was treated to ice cream donated by resident Bryan Scheff.

The 15 girls on theMidget teamrange in age from12 to 15 years old and are seventh- , eighth- and ninth-graders fromAllentown, Upper Freehold, Robbinsville,Wrightstown and Bordentown. They are Lauren Bressi, Emily Cocorles, Brianna Corlette, Zhanee Davis, Julia DeBronzo, Jaclyn Francis, Kristie Golla, Eva Martino, Sarah Moslowski, Hayley O'Rourke, Kaitlyn Pantaleone, Katelyn Savignano,Kelsey Shalack, Taylor Tornquist and DanaWardell.

Some of the girls have been cheering in the program for more than eight years, according to Midget coach Patti Cocorles.

She said that while the coaching staff was extremely proud of the girls' accomplishments throughout the entire season, it had been most proud of the girls receiving The National Spirit of Sportsmanship award.

"InAugust, we sat with the girls letting them know what we expected from them," Cocorles said. "We had a few rough moments, but this group of girls showed all that attended the Midget competition in Lake Buena Vista what being a Redbird cheerleader was all about."

She continued, "These girls cheered on squads throughout the day despite the fact that they were directly competing against them."

Out of approximately 80 cheer squads at the competition, four teams were nominated for the award, but the Allentown squad received the honor.

To win a national championship, the girls had to practice, according to Cocorles. StartingAug. 1, 2007, the girls practiced together 10 hours per week until school started, after which they practiced six hours per week, said Cocorles.

The coach noted that each girl also spent many hours at home practicing the routine while juggling schoolwork, social activities and rooting for the football team.

"Not only do they prepare for their first competition in October, but they also need to learn sideline cheers and a half-time performance, as they cheer their Midget football team on each week," she said.

The squad would not exist without its coaches, and each coach puts a lot of hard work into training the group of teenage girls, according to Cocorles. She said the coaching staff starts working months prior to the "official" start of the season, scheduling gym times, creating new routines and preparing the girls for the start of a new season. Coaches also meet and talk regularly to discuss the girls' strengths and weaknesses, review practice tapes and make adjustments for the best routine possible, according to Cocorles.

When asked what kind of workmaking a national championship team entails, Cocorles replied, "Skill, determination and Redbird spirit!"

She recalled that one of the cheerleaders had been injured in the lastmoments of the last practice before their regional competition. Coaches immediately rearranged the girls' positions in the routine and the girls banded together to persevere. Their outstanding performance at the regional competition earned them second place and an invitation to the Pop Warner National Cheer and Dance Competition in Florida.

Cocorles said the team's motto is "Team stands for Together Everyone Achieves More."

For Cocorles and MaryBeth Golla, who have decided that thiswill be their last year coaching, and for squad members who will no longer be eligible for theMidget teamdue to their age, Cocorles said, "What a way to end the season, as well as our Redbird career."

The Junior Midgets consists of 19 girls ranging in age from 10 to 13 years old. They are Kelly Blair, Sammy Boyle, Kimmy Brown, Tinajah Davis, Kelsey Doherty, Laura Evanowski, Megan Hultberg, Kim King, Kelcy Kretchmer, Abbey Lubeski, Kelly McGuigan, Jordan Moslowski, Katie O'Grady, Sara Paldino, Leah Poll, Sam Rudin, Emily Schachtele, Mikayla Storey and KatieWilhalme.

Junior Midgets coach Danielle Boyle said that 14 of the 19 girls on the teamwere also on the 2006 PeeWee teamthatwent to the national competition last year.

"Going into this season, we were no longer the underdogs but the team that everyone wanted to beat," she said. "A lot of pressure was on the girls and coaching staffs to get back to Disney this year."

Boyle said the JuniorMidgets knew exactly what they needed to do to place as high as possible in each competition in order to advance to the next level and to win the national competition.

"The girls hit the floor with enthusiasm and totally nailed their routine," she said. "As coaches, we couldn't have asked for anything more."

Boyle has worked withmost of the girls on the Junior Midgets team for five seasons.

"I have really come to understand and respect them," she said. "They always give me and my coaching staff 100 percent. They work exceptionally well together. They have wonderful parents who make my job much easier."

Jill Kretchmer's daughter, Kelcy, joined the Junior Midgets last year and has been fortunate enough to go to the national competition twice.

"Unless you are involved with cheer, it's hard to not pass it off as pretty girls with short skirts and pom-poms," Kretchmer said. "They put in many hours of practice in a very short time frame," she said. "Tumbling and skill levels vary. However, choreography is key for everyone."

Gary Savignano, whose daughter Katelyn is on the Midgets, said he had no idea how much work, effort, athletic ability, teamwork and leadership were involved in cheering.

"Football, hockey, baseball all take practice, but they have nothing on these cheerleaders. Trust me! It is a sport!"

Kretchmer said cheerleaders accomplish what many adults couldn't even begin to do.

"For them to be able to go and perform in front of thousands of people both locally and nationally is quite a feather in their caps," she said.

Cheering also teaches young women lessons that they will take with them throughout their lives, Kretchmer said.

"The most important of which is the ability to work as a team unit and not focus on 'I,' " she said.

Savignano said that on behalf of all the parents and girls, he would like to acknowledge the huge sacrifice of time that all Pop Warner coaches make as volunteers.

"An amazing amount of time, considering they start in August, almost daily, and we went to almost the end of the year," he said. "These young ladies would not have gone as far as they did if it was not for their constant support."