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10/04/2018 12:00 AMThe North Branford cheerleading squad is welcoming a familiar face as its head coach for the 2018-’19 school year. The team’s new head coach is Jamie Slubowski, who competed for the T-Birds, before graduating from North Branford High School in 2017.
Jamie cherished her experience as a T-Birds’ cheerleader. She feels grateful to now have the opportunity to serve as North Branford’s head coach.
“I love it, and I am so looking forward to being able to influence the girls on my team to become better cheerleaders, better in school, and just better all-around. I love cheerleading. I know they do, too, and it’s just really all so exciting to be a part of it again,” says Jamie, who still lives in North Branford. “I’m just really excited to be with the high school. I just love cheer, and I’m so happy it’s still a part of my life.”
For the past two years, Jamie has been coaching in North Branford’s Youth Cheer program, working with kids at the U-12 and U-14 levels. Jamie is hoping that this experience will help her make a smooth transition to the high-school circuit.
“I really enjoy cheerleading and preparing the younger girls for high school, which now is a huge benefit for me, because I’m going to have them in high school,” Jamie says. “The freshman now, I had on my youth team.”
Jamie, a sophomore at Southern Connecticut State University, is close with North Branford’s previous head coach, Marisa Laudano. As she steps into her new position, Jamie says that she’s been turning to Laudano for some advice on how to guide the team.
“She’s great. I honestly wouldn’t be the person I am today without her. She turned me into a cheerleader and a good, responsible person,” says Jamie of Laudano. “Now that I’m leading her team, she’s there to help guide me along these first couple of years, before I get really comfortable.”
Laudano saw firsthand just how involved Jamie was as a member of her squad. She feels confident that Jamie is going to do a great job of filling her shoes.
“Jamie was a cheerleader for four years on my team and also a captain her senior year,” Laudano says. “She was given a lot of responsibilities and saw a lot of what happens behind the scenes with the team, all of which I’m sure will help her to create her own teaching style.”
Jamie is looking for the T-Birds to have success on the mat, but she’s also emphasizing that they have fun while they work toward their goals. Jamie is all about being positive, and she wants that attitude to be prevalent among her athletes.
“I really try to keep things fun. I feel sports, in general, if you’re getting constantly screamed at and worked to your limits, it’s just not enjoyable,” she says. “I had the opportunity to learn from Marisa, and I’m able to form my own perspective of how I’d like things to be done. I’m a very positive person and like positive reinforcement. I don’t think screaming at people is effective and helpful, so I just like to keep a positive, fun atmosphere and let the girls do what they have to do to be successful themselves.”
With the football season in full swing, North Branford’s cheerleaders are on the sidelines rooting on their fellow T-Birds every week. Jamie says it feels like she never left.
“Honestly, it’s all the same. The same bonding with the team, excitement at the football games, it’s all very nostalgic for me, and I’m so happy to still be a part of it,” says Jamie. “I love it. I’ve always been a part of the community with youth cheer. Being able to go to the high-school football games again, watch my girls cheer, and watch the team play, it’s just a great feeling.”
Of course, Jamie also knows that North Branford’s cheerleaders are eager to begin the competition season in the winter. Jamie says she’s going to do everything she can to make sure the Thunderbirds are ready.
“This year, I see a lot of strength in the team. The bonding is really good, so I think they’re really excited,” says Jamie. “Competition is what we look forward to all year. The fact that we’re already so far along in the beginning of the season gives us the ability to do great.”