Homecoming Game Saturday, October 29 at Memorial Field. Go Baymen!
The Oyster Bay Varsity Cheerleaders attended and coached the Roughriders Cheerleading practice on Tuesday, Sept 20. As all residents of Oyster Bay probably know, the Roughriders program is a cheerleading and football association run in the area by parents. Each week the cheerleading team, led by senior, Jillian Boccia, and junior, Gabriella Micelli, coach and instruct the Roughrider Cheerleaders as they prepare to be future Oyster Bay High School Cheerleaders.
The OBHS Cheerleaders taught the young spirit spreaders a few new cheers and, of course, put their stunts on display. The Roughriders were in awe while the squad tossed girls in the air as they twisted and turned with ease.
Why did the OBHS Cheerleaders do this you may wonder? The answer is simple. They are trying to change the “cheer culture” at the High School with the help of Athletic Director, Mr. Len Kies. Cheerleading is no longer just about looking pretty and dancing around the football field. It is much more than that. At Oyster Bay High School, cheerleading is about giving back to the community, the school, fellow classmates, athletes, and helping each other.
The cheerleaders have many more charity projects planned, all for organizations and groups that the squad is personally touched by. Of course, their main focus is still cheering on the football and basketball teams, so make sure to come down to the Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Memorial Field and support your 2011 Varsity Football team. Go Baymen!
The Back Story
The Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics for the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Schools, Mr. Len Kies took on the job of coaching the squad this year. He quickly developed a rapport with the girls who welcome his leadership.
Mr. Kies added to Brianna’s story with comments about what the Cheerleading Squad has planned.
Through the efforts of senior Brianna Gallagher, the varsity cheerleaders will be running a table at Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 29, supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. All donations will be going directly to the foundation. The cheerleaders will be selling “blue wish bands” for a suggested donation of $ 1 that day.
Seniors Nicole Testa and Brianna Gallagher were chosen to be Oyster Bay’s representatives to the Long Island Cheerleading Coaches Association’s Ambassador Cheerleading Team. This team unites cheerleading squads from Nassau and Suffolk County in a variety of fundraising events. Scheduled events that Oyster Bay High School’s Varsity Cheerleading team will take part in include a breast cancer walk at Jones Beach on Sunday, Oct. 16 as well as a massive food drive for Thanksgiving and finally a winter coat drive sometime in February. According to LICCA officer Lucille Mankowich this is believed to be Oyster Bay High School’s first association with the Long Island Cheerleading Coaches Association.
The traditional Friday night football dinners have become Friday night cosponsored dinners for both football and cheerleading teams. Cheerleaders are decorating lockers of varsity football players each and every week of the season rather than only for Homecoming as was the past practice. With this increased activity, along with increased publicizing of games with posters and signs each week put up by our cheerleaders, the team hope to provide a boost in school spirit and support.
FYI: The Baymen Football team enjoyed their first win of the season on Oct. 8, in an exciting overtime win over the North Shore Vikings (29-28).
This year’s cheerleading captains are Jillian Boccia, Alexa Roland, Nicole Testa and Christina Vaccaro.
This year’s team includes: Alexa Roland, Nicole Testa, Christina Vacarro, Jillian Boccia, Samantha Kuhns, Brianna Gallagher, Sarah Albelda, Sabrina Sandler, Laura Kellog, Allison McEvoy, Gabriella Micelli, Vanessa Gutierrez, Rachel Shwartz, Cailin Cook, Morgan Baxter, Megan Fives and Cassie Archdecon.
