The varsity cheer team has been very busy this fall and have had a great season up to now. Despite starting off the season with brand new coaches, NPHS graduates Sydney Marciano and Grace Terilizzi, the team has been able to adapt quickly to the new coaching style. They have been working hard to perfect their half time routine and sideline cheers. 

New head coach Marciano said:  “It feels really great. I’ve been the assistant for the last two years. So getting to step up as the head was really exciting for me as I had the opportunity to kind of take over the program.”

The new job comes with a lot of responsibilities: “After Claudia Ralph left I wasn’t sure if the girls would now see me as the head coach, being that I was the assistant for the last two years. However, knowing my relationship with them and how much I love the sport, I knew that it would be an easy transition and I wanted to be there for them.” 

Marciano has high expectations for the team, which is already much stronger than it has been:  “When I first started coaching, 2 years ago, stunting was something we struggled with the most. We focused on it a lot in preseason and now it’s something that we are strong at.”

She also said that this year’s team is planning to be more involved with the school, and is focused on including both JV and varsity in all the school spirit opportunities this season. 

Just like the coach, the cheerleading team has high hopes for the season, which started during a pre-season that gets taken very seriously.  Instead of going to a sleep away camp, NPHS cheerleaders have the luxury of bringing the camp to them. 

According to Marciano: “Starting preseason two weeks before the actual season starts gives us a chance to get a jumpstart on those skills and it truly does help us.” 

First ever junior captain of the team Maddie Donza is extremely proud of what has been accomplished so far:  “I love that I got the opportunity to be a junior captain because I think it’s a great change in the team. I believe I have a better connection with the younger girls on the team. A great captain is someone who the team trusts. I strive each day to help anyone who comes to me for advice. When the team seems unmotivated, I remind them of their strengths and assure them that their team is here to support them.”

Another captain, senior Ugne Naujokaite has the same philosophy:  “Cheer is one of those sports where you have to trust your teammates;  Building these connections takes time, but through team bonding we are able to get super close.” 

The results of all this hard work and team-building are evident. 

“I think my favorite part is being at the games and getting to see everyone perform at halftime. Getting to see the effort that gets put in all week long, day after day, week after week, month after month, and just to see the routine continue to improve and then watching everyone shine out there on the field, is the best feeling,”  said Marciano.