By Amy Batista, Special Writer
FLORENCE — The Florence Township Football Association cheer program girls entered competitions for the first time and won first and second place.
”This year was their first year entering such competitions since leaving the Pop Warner League,” Gina Dunphy, cheerleading coordinator and secretary of the Florence Township Football Association, said in an email. “The idea was to start small — to get their feet wet and give them an idea of what to expect.”
She said that since the West Jersey Youth Football league the girls were a part of for the past two years does not have a cheer competition, they looked elsewhere for local competitions.
The GTGAA Fall Fest at Highland High School in Blackwood was held Nov. 22. Their 115-pound squad won first place while their 85-pound squad won second place.
At the girls’ next competition, Gotta Cheer Holiday Cheer Classic at The Dunn Center in Elizabeth on Dec. 13, their 115-pound squad competed and won second place.
”I think the girls were excited to place (85-pound squad), being that it was their first time competing,” head coach Kristen Mancini said in an email.
She said the girls put in many days and hours practicing.
”They do their homework,” she said. “Some run on their parents’ schedule, which means eating late dinners after practice. So to see them put in the time and the excitement on their face when they placed and saw they were bringing home a trophy was awesome.”
The 115-pound cheer squad was ecstatic with their success at both competitions, head coach Sarah Larkin said in an email.
”It was a great experience to go to competition for the first time, to be with girls I’ve worked so hard with and win,” said Hadiyyah Harris, a cheerleader on the 115-pound squad.
”I’m glad that we won first and second place because my team and I worked really hard to get up to this point,” said Sadie Larkin-Wildt, a cheerleader on the 115-pound squad.
Coach Larkin said it had been two years since the FTFA cheer program had competed.
”There were many girls new to our program, who had never been to competition before and had no idea what to expect or where we would fall competitively with the other teams,” she said. “They all felt accomplished and proud of themselves, and I truly believe it increased their self confidence as cheerleaders and young women.”
She said they gained more confidence in their own skills and abilities as well as their fellow teammates and the ability of the team as a whole.
”My daughter, Jenell’s self-confidence increased,” said parent Ouiden Burke-Green.
Assistant coach Liz Wuelfing said the season was never about winning or losing.
”It was about pushing the girls to the best of their ability and building confidence in themselves,” she said.
Coach Larkin said, “The FTFA cheer season began in June with a weeklong cheer clinic and was in full swing beginning the week of Aug. 8 at which time the girls were practicing two hours twice a week outdoors to reiterate and improve cheer principles like flexibility, jumps, arm motions, sideline cheers and band dances.”
She added, “Once school started, and we could utilize gym space and cheer mats, we then began practicing two hours three times a week and used that time to work on stunting, tumbling and our competition routine.
”We also had a group of girls working an additional hour a week with tumbling instructor Marcus Smith, who helped them perfect and advance their tumbling skills for the competition routine. These girls dedicated five months to perfecting their sport, even on days they may not have felt like it or were feeling under the weather. They committed wholeheartedly to this program and their teammates.”
The program has three levels — the 115-pound squad with 18 girls who range in ages from 10 to 13 years old; an 85-pound squad with 12 girls who range in ages from 7 to 9 years old; and a 65-pound squad with nine girls who range in ages from 5 to 6 years old.
”From a recreation standpoint, it’s really nice to see the kids have the opportunity to take what they’ve learned throughout the season and compete with their peers from across the state,” Recreation Coordinator Marty Eckert said. “The results they’ve achieved speak volumes to the dedication of the coaches, junior coaches and parents that support the program.”
Ms. Dunphy said that since Florence began a youth football and cheer program in the 1970s, the girls participated in the annual Pop Warner competitions and for years were top contenders, taking first place over and over again.
”Additionally, we hired a cheer choreographer, Nicole Clark from Burlington Township, to help the girls with their competition and game routines,” she said.
She said they hosted a summer cheer clinic, inviting girls to the program to give them an idea of what Florence cheerleading is all about.
For Coach Larkin, the highlight, as coach was seeing the feelings of accomplishment and excitement and how proud the girls felt after they performed.
”Each and every girl on the team went out there, had fun, gave 110 percent and left everything they had out there on the floor,” she said. “As coaches, that was all we asked of them, and placing first and then second was just a bonus.”
She said she also enjoyed seeing the growth every girl made individually and the team as a whole, working together, in synchrony, as one unit.
”As a mother, I was proud to see the effort, hard work and leadership my daughter, Sadie, contributed to the team,” she said.
Ms. Dunphy said, “Next, year we are looking to enter them in more competitions, clinics and camps and will be meeting soon to discuss the progression of the cheer program.”
