It’s time to get fired up as the New Providence Cheerleading team gears up for the upcoming competition season. After the football season ends, the cheer team will immediately start training for competitions. The varsity team will be competing in eight competitions while junior varsity will compete in four.

“Last year’s season was amazing, as we won first place at States. It was our first year ever competing for a state title,” Mrs. Jacqueney, the Head Cheerleading Coach, said.

 Varsity’s first competition, called “Impact at Wayne Hills”, will be on December 15th. The team will be competing until February, with their last competition being States on February 29th. They are participating in the advanced all-girl medium division with thirteen to fifteen members and two alternates. The team begins preparing their stunts and dance during the fall, and they build up those skills for the winter season.

“Personally, I think that the team has improved from last year just because they have had a year of experience, and I think that the stunts skills that they learned are things that haven’t been done in years past,” Mrs. Jacqueney said.

This year, there are newer people on varsity, and there are seven newcomers who have never cheered before.

The challenge, according to Mrs. Jacqueney, is “teaching them what the sport entails” to prepare them for the upcoming winter season.

“I am really proud of the team’s growth from pre-season from where they are now, and I’m really proud of the program in general,” Mrs. Jacqueney said.