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02/20/2018 11:00 PMThe Morgan cheerleading team took home some hardware after earning first place in the inaugural Shoreline Conference Championship that was held at Westbrook High School on Feb. 10. The Huskies recorded a team score of 72.35 points in the eight-team competition to defeat runner-up Coginchaug, which scored a 71.70.
The Shoreline Conference Cheerleading Championship had been in the works for a long time, and Morgan Head Coach Joni Zdunczyk gave a lot of credit to Cromwell coach Maribeth Sarnacki for her efforts in organizing the event. Morgan came away with the championship trophy after completing a difficult routine that was full of challenging stunts, tumbles, cheers, and dances.
The Huskies’ roster includes senior captains Emily Clark, Grace DeVries, Morgan Mester, and Jackie Spear; fellow seniors Shelby Alfano, Meghan Schulze, Mikaela Gaudet, and Carly Schmeidler; juniors Jillian Case, Amber DeLuca, Meg Falcone, Jordona Caprio, and Angelyn Graves; sophomores Kylie Isleib, Amber Corrigan, Lauren Jasinski, and Samantha Clapper; plus freshmen Isabella Irizarry, Emily Schulze, Ashlynn Leka, and Alexis Bach. Isleib and Corrigan were named to the All-Shoreline Conference Second Team.
Schulze says that her team was in disbelief when Morgan was announced as the Shoreline champion. She felt the Huskies took a lot of pressure off of themselves by focusing more on cleanly executing their routine, instead of worrying about where they’d finish in the standings. That attitude, coupled with their diligence at practice, resulted in a victory for the Huskies.
“We still can’t believe that we won. I think part of the reason that we won was that we didn’t care about placement, and that we wanted to do our best routine,” Schulze said. “We were excited to go to Shorelines, and it was even better that we were actually able to win and take home the trophy...Everyone was ready to get to work and focus at practice. That way, if something did happen, everyone could work around it. Our coach has really worked tirelessly on our routine, and we appreciate all the extra time that she’s put in.”
Every team’s routine had to be between two minutes and two and a ½ minutes, and Morgan clocked in right at the 2:30 mark. Each performance had to include stunts, partner stunts, a pyramid, tumbling, a cheer, jumps, and a dance. Coach Zdunczyk’s squad strategically put together a challenging routine, because they knew that could potentially yield a higher score. That was what ultimately pushed Morgan over the top, but even before she knew her team’s final total, Zdunczyk got emotional while watching her athletes walk off the floor.
“I think the girls executed it really well. There were major mistakes in the routine, but to hit a perfect routine is near impossible,” said Zdunczyk, whose team also includes assistant coach Stephanie White and manager Chloe Grimes. “They had a ton of energy and were very positive. With the level of difficulty, we were able to do really well. That was the strategy. I was so excited. I wasn’t even thinking about the mistakes. I cried when they got off the floor.”
Zdunczyk made sure the Huskies were prepared for every contingency, and she believes that allowed them to rise above the inevitable adversity that occurs in any season. Morgan was able to adapt easily, because they feature several athletes who have been trained for multiples roles in their routines. Not only did that help the Huskies from a tactical standpoint, it also helped team develop better team chemistry.
“If one person gets hurt, the entire routine is affected. That’s what makes cheerleading so tough. Because we’ve made the girls really versatile, it’s made our season a lot easier,” said Zdunczyk, who’s in her fourth year as the Huskies’ head coach. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs, and a season is always filled with that. We’ve been able to handle the adversity. I think the girls really appreciate each other more, because they realize how important every single member of the squad is.”
Senior captain Grace DeVries said that Morgan’s versatility has paid off this season. DeVries had to rest early in the year due to an injury, but the Huskies didn’t miss a beat. When she returned later in the year, it was like she had never left. After helping another Morgan team win a title in the 2017-’18 school year, DeVries feels that her school’s pride is currently at a high point.
“We’re a very adaptable team. That’s the reason we score so high in our competitions, I think,” said DeVries. “It’s a proud feeling knowing that multiple sports teams are doing well this year. The Husky pride is really prominent this year, and it makes all the sports work even harder.”
Coach Zdunczyk was especially pleased with the atmosphere at the inaugural Shoreline meet. Although it was a competition, Zdunczyk said there was a lot of camaraderie among opposing athletes and coaches that day.
“The competition was a great moment for the girls to interact and hear each other’s stories. We kept hearing what everyone has gone through this season,” Zdunczyk said. “It’s good for the girls to relate to each other. It’s a different kind of sport, and it’s nice for them to talk to each other about that. It was great for the coaches to connect and talk to one another, too. It was a very supportive and happy environment.”
As her team prepares for the Class S State Championship, Coach Zdunczyk wants the Huskies to take the same approach that they did at Shorelines and simply perform their best.
“It’s been an amazing year. I’m trying to keep that same mentality. Stay humble. Nothing is yours. I’m not going into states hoping for a placement. I’m hoping they show an improvement from the last routine,” said Zdunczyk. “I have no idea who will place what, and I’m excited to see other teams. I want to see them do an awesome routine and feel really good about themselves when they come off of the mat.”