This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/22/2018 12:00 AMThroughout the past decade, Amber Corrigan has participated in a sport that she loves by being a cheerleader. Now a sophomore at Morgan, Amber’s passion for cheerleading has helped both herself and the Huskies reach new heights.
After moving from Colorado to Connecticut, Amber started cheerleading in the youth ranks in Clinton, before joining the squad at the middle school, and then the team at Morgan. This year, Amber earned All-Shoreline Second Team and All-State honors for the Huskies, who took first place at the inaugural Shoreline Conference Championship and then finished third at the Class S State Championship.
“Winning Shorelines was amazing and the best experience I’ve ever had. That morning, we felt good about our routine, so we were confident, but not cocky going in,” Amber says. “Parents with the team told us after our routine how good we did, and we thought we might get second or third place. I was sitting in a circle with my teammates with our fingers crossed and praying for a high placement. They usually announce us as ‘The Morgan School,’ so as soon as they said, ‘The,’ we knew we had it and started bawling our eyes out.”
The Huskies performed a familiar routine throughout the recent season, although they ramped up the difficulty on their way to winning the Shoreline title. Amber says the key to the Huskies’ success was for each member of the team to handle the task that was asked of her.
“I don’t know how we did the routine, but we had more skills than we did last year, so we used a routine from last season with a higher difficulty,” Amber says. “Our motivation and making sure that everyone did their job was what put us over the top. As long as we do our best, that is all that matters.”
Amber took center stage before the team competition at the Shoreline Championship when she performed for the judges in order to qualify for the All-Conference squad. Amber knows how deep the talent pool is in the conference, and so that made her All-Shoreline nod all the more rewarding.
“Going first was nerve-racking, but it was such a big honor to make Second Team,” says Amber, who also plays lacrosse for the Huskies. “The girls in the Shoreline Conference have amazing talent, so it was great to earn that honor. I remember hearing my name called, and I couldn’t believe it. It was a really nice moment.”
Morgan Head Coach Joni Zdunczyk says that Amber will take on any challenge and work as hard as she needs to in order to surpass the hurdle that’s in front of her.
“Amber is not only extremely talented athletically, she is an amazing listener and disciplined with her work ethic,” Zdunczyk says. “She will work extremely physically demanding skills for me over and over. She is hungry to learn and listens for feedback...She is one of the strongest and most fierce people. She will go after things, and she isn’t afraid of failing or messing up. She is always hungry to pursue a skill or overcome an obstacle.”
Cheerleading started off as a hobby for Amber, but with her thirst for competition, it quickly became her passion. Going forward, Amber is aiming to build on the success from her sophomore season, while becoming a leader for the Huskies throughout the second half of her career as a high-school cheerleader.
“At first, I did it to go to football games and make new friends, plus it kept me active. But I’m a competitive person, so comparing my jumps to others is fun to me. Once I got to high school, it was more of a sport to me,” Amber says. “I want to progress more with tumbling and harder stunts. I want to make All-State again and make All-Shoreline First Team. I also want to be a captain my senior year. My goals are getting my name out there and leading the team. I want to be a good leader and role model.”