Montgomery cheering trio honored

Cheerleaders cited for academics by Pop Warner group

By: Vic Monaco
   Hey, Lindsay Worsthorn and Brittany James, you just were picked as All-American Scholars by the Pop Warner Football/Cheerleading Association! What are you gonna do now?
   Just like the pros, they’re going to Disney World.
   The two Montgomery girls were among 20 local Pop Warner cheerleaders who initially qualified for All-American consideration in just the first year of the township football program, according to local cheerleading commissioner Linda Worsthorn, Lindsay’s mom. The national organization chose three local winners — also including Chelsea Middlebrook, who is unable to go to Florida later this month — based on grades and extra-curricular involvement. To qualify, you have to be in fifth-grade or higher and carry a 95 grade-point average for a full academic year. Only one percent of the 375,000 children in Pop Warner Football/Cheerleading nationwide are chosen All-American Scholars.
   The three girls said they were surprised.
   “My parents hadn’t told me I was a nominee,” said Brittany.
   “I didn’t even know they had the program,” said Lindsay.
   Brittany is a seventh-grader at Montgomery Middle School, after moving to the area from Passaic County.
   “I just moved to this town about a year ago,” said the 13-year-old. “I cheered in my other town.”
   Although the youngest of the three, at age 11, Lindsay is the cheerleading veteran among the award winners.
   “I’ve been cheerleading about four years,” said the Orchard Hill Elementary School student, who also attends dancing school and is an altar server at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church.
   Linda Worsthorn explained that Pop Warner is making the rooms at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort affordable, along with entrance to the Disney World parks. The two girls, their parents and siblings will leave for Florida later this month.
   “In Pop Warner world, it’s really a big deal to be chosen an All-American,” said Ms. Worsthorn.
   Chelsea, a sixth-grader at Montgomery Middle School, said it’s a big deal to her, even though she’s going to miss the trip.
   “I don’t need to go to Disney to know that,” the 12-year-old said proudly.
   Chelsea, who also is a swimmer and plays the clarinet, said she has been cheerleading for two years, and loves it.
   “It’s sort of a group thing and you have a lot of fun with it,” she said, adding, “And you get recognized.”