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02/16/2011 11:00 PMWhen the North Haven cheerleading team took the mat at the Southern Connecticut Conference Championship on Feb. 11, one of the first things the Indians' athletes told the crowd and judges as part of their routine was "This, is, our year! The title, is ours!"
North Haven was referring to the SCC title in the 15-over division, something the Indians had come close to in recent years, but never claimed.
Well, that all changed at East Haven High School last week for the Indians' opening cheers proved prophetic as Kathleen Crisafi's squad put together a routine which shined in terms of both technical ability and positive personality en route to a score of 76.50 that edged Foran's mark of 72.50 for first place in the most competitive division at the meet.
In other action, Shelton edged five-time defending champion Branford atop the coed division while also earning the Team Spirit Award with Hamden winning the 14-under division and Career taking first in novice competition. Cheshire, Mercy, Sacred Heart Academy, Sheehan, and Lyman Hall were the other teams in the 15-over competition.
East Haven's team consisted of captains Katherine Collins and Toni Montouri, fellow seniors Chelsea Krasnow, Dana Nixon, and Nicole Allen; captain Taylor Acerra and fellow juniors Taylor Leary, Marissa Brockett, and Jackie Gianfriddo; sophomores Angelica Coppola, Marisa Monaco, and Brianna Amendola; along with freshmen Tori DePalma, Rachael Massey, Angelina DeMarco, Briana Minichino, Marissa Vittorio, Ashley Poirier, Jessica Poirier, and Carla Anania.
The meet's eight judges graded teams based on pyramids, partner stunts, gymnastics, jumps, motions, dance, voice, expression and enthusiasm, formations and spacing, transitions, and overall effect and appeal.
Yellowjackets' Coach Michelle Maru was extremely pleased with the way her team performed in front of their home crowd.
"I'm really proud of our girls for their performance. The pulled it together and hit just about everything perfectly. We were all crying; that's how happy we were," Maru said. "We have amazing senior leadership on this team as all the seniors wanted so badly for us to do our best and pushed the other girls to do their best."