Hopatcong Cheers Cheer Champions

A gang of girls took over the Hopatcong municipal building last Wednesday, filling the council room with good cheer and happy smiles.

The members of the Hopatcong Junior Wildcats cheerleading squad celebrated their successful season with family, friends and the Borough Council on Hopatcong Junior Wildcats Cheerleaders Day, so named by council proclamation.

The squad, whose members are between four and 18 years of age, had quite a run.

In February, the squad placed first in the Recreation and Schools Nationals “Reach the Beach”  competition in Ocean City, Md., defeating 59 other squads.  That victory resulted in the only invitation of that tournament to appear at the U.S. Cheerleading finals in Providence, RI in May.

The team raised $7,000 for the trip.

In Providence, the Junior Wildcats placed second, and ended the season ranked fourth in the United States.

“They worked, and worked and worked,” said lead coach Cindy O’Brien. “We are very proud of you.”

The Junior Wildcats are  a competitive cheerleading team and the organization fields three separate teams, O’Brien said.

The borough proclamation cited, “Their ability to work together as a team, their passion for perfection and the commitment to success has brought great pride to our community and inspires us all."

Mayor Sylvia Petillo congratulated the team and coaches and said that such success could not happen with out the support and sacrifice of the parents.

The 2012-13 Junior Wildcats are coached by O’Brien and Linda Schooler with instructors Amari Schooler, Cassie Colucco, Baillie Mokosky. Karissa Suppa and Summer Luciani.

The team consists of Jessica Burlew, Kassidy Carpenter, Amelia Doleshal, Lauren Eckert, Caleigh Endean, Riley Gallagher, Emily Krip, Amanda Ladomirak, Kayla Ladomirak, Julia LaManna, Samanatha Lazzara, Abigail McDonough, Gabrielle McDonough, Alexis McGowan, Hailey McGowan, Kelly Nelson, Harmony Prescott, Kennidy Rauchbach, Amanda Ross, Nicole Schuman, Samantha Schuman and Jessica Thompson.