Two Wolverine Pop Warner squads bring home national titles
By: Rich Fisher
MONROE Once again, the Monroe Township Pop Warner cheerleaders took Disney World and the nation by storm.
The Wolverine cheerleaders returned home from Orlando, Fla., with two more national championships after competing in the National Pop Warner Cheer competition last week. The Junior Midgets and Junior Pee Wees are both undefeated national champions, while the Pee Wees placed second at the nationals.
"There ain’t no party like a Monroe party, that would pretty much sum up the week," said a jubilant Mary Lange, the Monroe Wolverines cheer director and head coach of the Junior Midgets. "We had 118 cheerleaders and coaches and about 350 parents and spectators down there.
"Every day that a team competed, all of Monroe was there to cheer on each and every team. Once again, Monroe was the talk of Disney, a perfect example of what true sportsmanship is. I’m very proud to belong to this organization."
The Junior Pee Wees kicked things off with their championship performance on Tuesday. The squad is coached by Becky Paprota, and her assistants are Patricia Dolan, Louise Quijano and Kathleen Watlington.
"What can I say about our squad, they were determined from day one," Ms. Paprota said. "There was no stopping these young ladies. They had one thought in their mind Disney. Even though they were never allowed to say the word to their coaches during the season we know they were focused on it. And they succeeded.
"They came out of this season as undefeated national champs. As head coach I could not be prouder. Words could never express the feelings of this season. They wanted it, they did it, they did it with class and amazement."
The team members are Paige Albach, Brittany Ballack, Brianna Briel, Alexa Black, Leah Boll, Alyssa Dabroski, Victoria Dini, Emily Dolan, Emily Fodor, Nicole Glessman, Amanda Gonchar, Caitlin Gonchar, Lauren Hinger, Samantha Horsch, Carly Johnston, Alexa Kutz, Skyler LeBrun, Nicole LiSanti, Callie Lucas, Cassidy McCann, Makayla Miller, Kathryn Oliva, Karin Olsen, Nicole Perricho, Jamie Peto, Jessica Quijano, Megan Romanczuk, Erica Russo, Jamie Ryfkogel, Taylor Smith, Alexis Todaro, Emily Toth, Callie Trainor, Kerianne Watlington, Samantha Widmer.
Next up were the Pee Wees on Wednesday, who finished better than all but one team throughout the land.
The Pee Wees are coached by Deborah Zybrick, who was assisted by Patty Dinsmore, Abbe Fleming, Beth Fucito and Stephanie Talalai.
"We are so proud of how far our Pee Wee squad has come this year," Ms. Dinsmore said. "Not only did they meet the challenge of moving up to the Intermediate level, but earned the titles of Central Jersey, State and Eastern Regional Champions.
"Coming in second place in the nation, after performing a flawless routine in Disney World, was a rewarding culmination to a wonderful season."
The team members are Brenna Baker, Courtney Baszak, Alexa Buttitta, Kristien Calavano, Janaya Carpenter, Caitlyn Celendano, Megan Ciaccio, Brooke Ciaston, Jessica Clark, Courtney Coughlin, Jessica DeCarlo, Julianne Dinsmore, Megan Dursky, Kailyn Duttkin, Katelyn Faughnan, Heather Fleming, Alexa Fucito, Loren Greene, Jessica Gustas, Jessica Hondo, Jamie Kazar, Kristi Kenneally, Brittany Marchi, Anielka Mattos, Karley Rose Nesby, Mary Paprota, Elizabeth Pastor, Camille Rabe, Racquel Rutzler, Allison Sullivan, Alyssa Talalai, Megan Tonkery, Donna Velez, Samantha Vicuna and Lindsey Zybrick.
Things wrapped up on Thursday with another national championship, as the Junior Midgets won the title under coach Lange and her assistants, Kathleen Kovach, Debra Ludden, Michele Magaraci and Jessica Pirot.
"They were simply amazing," Ms. Lange said. "They are a new team and many girls had never cheered before. Only a few were on the team last year and yet they worked so hard together as a team.
"Each competition, they put on quite a show. We gave them a routine and told them they had to sell it to the judges and that is exactly what they did. That is why they are champions."
The team members are Kelsey Atwater, Jessica Baum, Jessica Cusanelli, Marissa Dolan, Veronica Doyle, Alyssa Feliciano, Christina Ferraro, Jennifer Ferro, Amanda Fritz, Julie Go, Amanda Guida, Krystle Harris, Brittany Hayton, Jessica Johns, Jessica Keenan, Heather Krause, Kimberly Kwatkoski, Bianca LeBrun, Christina Lorfing, Karissa Ludden, Alexa Marshall, Holly Olsen, Catharine Pastor, Allison Pron, Nyasia Ramos, Nicole Rasky, Fallon Regan, Morgan Rettberg, Alexandra Silva, Angela Steffe, Jennifer Tricarico, Meghan Williams and Tina Yang.

