Sachem Sports Club Hosts First Cheer Spectacular

The first annual (SSC) Cheer-Spectacular was well-attended at High School last weekend. 

The event was open to the entire Sachem community to come and share in the excitement of their new league and cheer teams. 

The bleachers were filled with parents, family and friends eager to view the routines the SSC sideline squads and competition teams have been crafting and perfecting all season.  This spirited celebration was the result of six months of assiduousness in practicing, perseverance and team work.

It was also a chance for the younger participants to witness the precision and skill of the Sachem East and North varsity cheerleaders, and the respective JV teams, as well as the middle school cheerleaders.

The unique exhibition chronicled the transition from youth teams to school teams, and included impressive routines courtesy of the SSC  5 and 6-year old, 7 and 8-year old, 9 and 10-year old and 11-14-year old teams.

"When you start young, it inspires them to keep persevering to get to that level when seeing older girls," said Jessica Catalano, who coaches the five and six- year- olds with Phyllis Hill, SSC cheerleading head coach, and coordinator of the event.

Hill said this is the first year the club participated in cheer competing, and at the Battle of the Counties the 8 year olds won a Spirit Award; while the 10-year old team took Second Place, in addition to winning a Spirit Award.

"It's been an exciting time," said Hill of coordinating the event. "I thought it would be a great time for everyone to see everything.  We wanted the five and six-year-olds to see the older girls." 

Hill added that for most of the SSC girls, this season has been the first time they ever cheered, and are learning and improving in leaps and bounds thanks to the great coaches they have from and Sachem North. 

SSC cheerleading also has coaches hailing from Suffolk County Community College, Dowling College, Hofstra University and more.  They bring with them over 16 years of experience in cheering, coaching and competing.

The varsity and JV teams dazzled with advanced stunts like back flips, splits and seemingly gravity-defying balancing acts, in addition to their boundless school spirit.

Joy, a Cheer mom who runs the party company NRG Express, volunteered her time as emcee and had the crowd energized and pumped up.  She kept the afternoon upbeat, spinning dance tunes from artists such as Miley Cyrus, Kesha and The Black Eyed Peas.

Sachem East JV Cheerleader, Danielle Doxsee, 17, said, "I'm excited to be here because [the youth teams] look up to us.  We want to be a good example for them."  Doxsee said she and her teammates practice every single day.

In order to help families in need this holiday season, the entertaining extravaganza also had a collection for non-perishable items to donate to a local food pantry, and held a 50/50 raffle to benefit an SSC family in need.

"I think it's a great fundraiser," said Noreen McGarry, the mother of a Sequoia Middle School cheerleader. "It's a practice run for their competitions in two weeks, and it's a great opportunity to be with other squads in the district."