The Oyster Bay High School cheer team has its sights set on a major milestone: the 2024 National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Florida. Led by varsity coach Holly Janoska, the team is working to qualify for the February event, which would be its third trip to the nationals since Janoska became head coach and the fourth in the program’s history.
“We have to go to regionals first and earn a bid to go to nationals,” Janoska explained. “Not all teams receive a bid, so we’re training hard to make sure we qualify.”
This season, the regional qualifier will take place on Dec. 15, at Iona College in New Rochelle. The OBHS team’s competition routine — two and a half minutes packed with jumps, tumbling, stunts and dance — is a crucial element they aim to perfect.
“We train year-round,” Janoska said. “I hold open gyms in the summer, and once the fall season starts, we’re preparing for both football halftime shows and competitions. We’re constantly building our skills, especially with stunts, which are a key part of our routine. The more advanced our stunts, the better our chances.”
The team spends time each week on weight training, to build the strength required for the routines. Team captains Brianna Hyde and Ella Reordon-Rizzo, both seniors, shared insights on the intense preparation with the team.
“It’s really exciting, but also a lot of pressure,” Reordon-Rizzo said. “We lost a whole stunt group last year because they graduated, but I feel like we came back maybe even a little better. Everyone’s working really hard, and we’re all excited to compete at regionals.”
Janoska noted that the team practices the same routine throughout the season, refining it each time and tweaking it to boost its level of difficulty.
“If we can add in a tumbling pass or make stunts a little harder, we do that,” she said. “By the time we get to nationals, we’ll be performing our most challenging routine, something that looks the best we can put on the mat.”
For Hyde and Reordon-Rizzo, a trip to the nationals this year would be particularly meaningful because it would mark the end of their high school cheerleading careers. Both have been on the team since they were freshman.
“Nationals is like no other experience,” Hyde said. “When you’re behind the curtain before going on, the nerves kick in. But once we’re on the mat, all the nerves go away. It’s something we’ve practiced over and over.”
Beyond the technical skills, the competition also builds camaraderie and teamwork, values Janoska emphasizes throughout the season. According to the captains, the trust that teammates develop is crucial.
“You form a bond unlike anything else,” said Reordon-Rizzo, who, like Hyde, is a “base,” supporting the flyers in the air. “We’re responsible for each other’s safety, and that trust brings us closer. Competing at nationals makes us an even stronger team.”
In addition to the competition, nationals offers valuable exposure for cheerleaders who hope to pursue the sport in college. Janoska pointed out that nationals often attract college cheer scouts.
“There’s a lot of opportunity for these athletes at nationals,” she said. “College coaches are always in attendance, and it’s a great way for the girls to introduce themselves and get noticed.”
For the Oyster Bay cheerleaders, preparing for nationals is about more than winning — it’s about self-discipline, commitment and the thrill of representing their school on a national stage. Shannon McEntee, the district’s director of health, physical education and athletics, sees the experience as invaluable in shaping the students as both athletes and individuals.
“They have to be at practice every single day, pushing themselves to improve,” McEntee said. “They’re accountable to each other, working hard, and learning what it means to be part of a team.”
With the regional competition around the corner, the team remains focused on proving it has what it takes to qualify for nationals. And while preparation is intense, Hyde and Reordon-Rizzo say they’re confident that they’re ready to face the challenge.
“This season feels special,” Hyde said. “We want to go out with our best. Nationals is the ultimate goal, and we’re doing everything we can to get there.”
