The Massapequa High School Varsity Cheerleaders made history when they competed for the first time in the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship at Walt Disney World. The team competed in the Super Varsity Division I category and placed among the top 11 teams. The competition is considered the most prestigious cheerleading championship in the country and was televised on ESPN and ESPN2 to more than 100 million homes around the world last month.
“It was my goal to set a new standard for the program by helping them get to Disney and the feeling was so incredible,” said head coach Erica Jordan.
After earning its bid to go to Nationals at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania in December, the squad spent the next two months preparing by practicing six days a week, while also cheering at all boys home basketball games and fundraising money for the trip.
“The team cried happy tears when they received the bid and continued to display pride and honor the entire time we were in Disney,” said Jordan. “There are only a select amount of schools each year that receive bids to compete in Disney and to be able to represent the Chiefs was a wonderful opportunity for Massapequa and has set a new expectation for the program which will continue to elevate the sport of cheerleading at Massapequa. I am honored to be a part of a wonderful school and program.”
For the first time, the squad also qualified for the Nassau County Championship, which took place at Wantagh High School, Feb. 21. The team came in third in the Large Varsity Division I category. It was the first county championship since the state recognized cheerleading as a sport.
—Submitted by Massapequa Public Schools
