By:Nick Buglione
Under the leadership of Carol Bracken, who has coached cheerleading at East Meadow High School for the past five years, the 20-girl team qualified for the Long Island Cheerleading Coaches Association finals earlier this month and placed eighth out of 11 teams.
For them, it was just a big deal that they made it, said Bracken, who is in her second year as varsity cheerleading coach after coaching the junior-varsity squad for three years. It was a big accomplishment.
East Meadow High School-s team hasn-t ever really been known as a competitive team, said Bracken, who first broached the idea of entering competitions with the girls last year. I came from a school that always competed, said Bracken, who was a cheerleader at Bethpage High School. Cheerleaders should take part [in competitions] because it shows them that there is just so much more out there than cheering for sports teams.
About half of last year-s squad was eager to give it a shot, while the other half, mostly graduating seniors, seemed wary of the commitment.
But with an influx of fresh talent this year, the girls were overwhelmingly willing to work on a routine and hit the competitive circuit. Last year a lot of the seniors didn-t want to compete, and this year everyone was really eager to, said Jillian Wax, a 15-year-old sophomore on the team.
Competing against teams from around Long Island, however, wasn-t easy. Although cheerleading in general isn-t exactly a walk in the park, competing meant the girls were going to have to work twice as hard this year.
Much like high school football teams, the girls- season really started in the summer and culminated with a four-day cheerleading camp. Once the school year started, the girls practiced three days a week. We would put in some extra days before competitions, Wax said.
The girls also often hit the weight room that-s right the weight room. Today-s cheerleading cannot be pawned off as simply an extracurricular activity, something a girl joins so she can put it on her resume. It-s a grueling, high-flying sport requiring the utmost concentration and physical fitness.
For the girls that are basing, it-s a lot of upper arm strength and leg strength, Wax said. We do go to the weight room and work out.
Competing also meant that the team would have to come up with a three-minute routine to take on the road. Today it-s kind of common for teams to have a choreographer or gymnastics coach, Bracken said. They definitely have an advantage, but I wouldn-t say it-s unfair because every team has the option to do it.
Bracken and her three captains, though, came up with East Meadow-s routine by watching a lot of cheerleading tapes and brainstorming. I think they can do just as well without a choreographer, Bracken said. I thought our routine was great and on that level.
When the team finally hit the mats to compete, the girls did better than Bracken could have ever expected. They placed fifth in their first competition on Jan. 11 and tied for fourth in their second on Jan. 25.
Judging in the competitions is based on a number of factors, including execution, gymnastics and music incorporation.
By taking part in two events and placing in at least one meaning they took home one of the five trophies given out at the competitions East Meadow earned a spot at the Long Island Cheerleading Coaches Association finals, held Feb. 7 at St. Joseph-s College in Patchogue.
The team finished eighth out of 11, with nearby W.T. Clarke High School coming in ninth. Senior Hayley Smith was chosen for the All-Star team and six cheerleaders Wax, Smith, Michelle Goldstein, Gayle Jukofsky, Rebecca Perrick and Rachel Graff performed in a patriotic tribute cheer at the finals.
Losing only three seniors to graduation, Bracken believes East Meadow-s varsity cheerleading squad will be a team to watch next season. They-re going to definitely be tougher competition, she said. When other teams seem them, they-ll know they-re going to face a competitive team.
