Braves, Cougars team up for Homecoming

Kennedy High School students who grew up as cheerleaders and football players with the Bellmore Braves gave back last week to the teams that helped form them into the high school athletes they are.

Kennedy takes in students from Bellmore and Merrick. On Friday night, before Kennedy’s bonfire to conclude Spirit Week, sixth-graders from the Bellmore Braves who will attend Kennedy traveled to their future high school. The girls were instructed by the Kennedy varsity cheerleaders, and the boys learned a few hard hits from the varsity football players.

Senior Ashley Brocco came up with the idea as a way for the Cougars to give back to their community. Ashley’s mom, Patrice Brocco, said that everyone involved took to the idea quickly and helped in the planning. With so many Braves going on to cheer and play football at Kennedy, it seemed like a natural thing to do. “History keeps repeating itself,” Patrice said.

After the children finished practice, they headed into Kennedy, where a home-cooked meal awaited them. The Braves cheerleaders helped cheer at Homecoming the next day, and the football players helped out on the sidelines during the game.