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02/27/2018 11:00 PMThe future continues to look bright for the East Haven cheerleading squad, which saw freshman Natalia Gentile claim pair of prized postseason accolades for her performance during the winter season. Natalia earned a spot on the All-SCC Team and then garnered All-State Class M honors on behalf of the Yellowjackets this year.
“As a freshman, I didn’t think I was going to get it. I definitely hoped and aspired to achieve those goals, but we were speculating if I would get them or not,” says Natalia. “With determination, you can accomplish anything. I know my coaches had faith in me, because they’re really supportive. They do whatever they can to help me out, and they make this team so much fun.”
Head Coach Michelle Maru was impressed with the skills that Natalia brought to the Easties as a freshman. Maru feels proud of Natalia for earning All-Conference and All-State nods in just her first season with the team.
“She is eager each practice to work hard and be the best cheerleader she can be,” Coach Maru says. “My assistant coach Krista Anania and I love coaching Natalia and are so proud of her accomplishments that she’s already received. We look forward to coaching her through the rest of her high-school career and hope to see her make the All-State Team each year of high school.”
Natalia grew up doing gymnastics, but decided that she wanted to try something new in middle school. She didn’t make her middle-school cheerleading team in 6th grade, but then earned her spot the following year, and has been cheering ever since.
“I really liked the floor the best, because of the tumbling [in gymnastics], so I figured I’d try to cheer,” Natalia says. “Because I didn’t have any experience, I didn’t make it in 6th grade, but when I tried out again in 7th grade, I made it.”
Natalia quickly developed a passion for cheerleading and started taking classes to get better. When she was in 8th grade, Natalia was named a captain for her squad at the middle school. Natalia became a flyer when she was in middle school and still holds that role with the high-school squad.
“I’m very petite, so I’ve always been a flyer. In middle school, I was very nervous and scared, but now I feel a lot more comfortable,” says Natalia. “My mom always says a house is as good as its foundation, and I know my teammates are really supportive and do whatever they can to make my flying easier for me.”
Although she enjoys competing, Natalia also likes cheering on her fellow Yellowjackets’ teams at their games, while feeding off the energy of the crowd.
“I like getting the crowd going. I like when the crowd knows the cheers and participates,” says Natalia. “We do that for the girls and boys playing football and basketball, and I love when people do it for us.”
After setting the bar high for herself as a freshman, Natalia feels eager to see what’s in store for her during the next three seasons of her high-school cheerleading career.
“I strive to get All-SCC and All-State for four years in a row. I also strive to get Cheerleader of the Year,” says Natalia, who thanks her mother and grandfather for their support of the team. “I know I have to improve upon my stunting and gain more skills tumbling. I just need to stay focused and improve upon being an all-around better cheerleader.”