Farmingdale High School’s cheerleading team is only in its second year competing at the varsity level and it has already made history as they took the Division I large school state championship last week.
“It was very unexpected,” Coach Caitlin Weinsheimer said. “We did not think we were going to win. We knew we were a really good program, but that was our first time up at states. We’ve been together for three years and built this program together. Our goal was to go out there and leave our hearts and soul on the mat. It was such pure joy and shock.”
The Dalers finished with an overall score of 89.98. They beat out fellow Long Island team West Babylon, who came in second place. Farmingdale became the first Nassau County team to ever win the state title.
In regular season competition, the squad won seven of its eight competitions. In addition to making the state championship for the first time, the team also attended the national competition in Orlando, FL. Earlier this month, in their second appearance at counties, Farmingdale was able to capture their first county title.
“It was the best feeling in the world,” cheerleader Jessica Kielb said. “We were working all year for that moment. All of our hard work finally paid off.”
There were some challenges, according to Weinsheimer, as the team had to deal with the flu before nationals earlier this year, and there was some injuries they needed to overcome. However, it couldn’t have ended on a better note for them.
“To end on a note like that, especially since the athletes fought to have this program and to prove their worth in having this program, is an indescribable feeling,” Weinsheimer said.
In a year to remember, cheerleader Diane Maughan said she’ll look back on the bond the team had.
“I’ll remember all the friendships that I made that will last forever,” Maughan said. “I’m just so proud of everybody.”
