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03/02/2023 08:33 AMThroughout her sporting career, Marina Giammattei has proudly worn many hats–from All-SCC diver, to captain, and even team manager. Now, only a year into her collegiate career, she has manufactured another moniker in being a national champion.
The Branford High School (BHS) Class of 2022 graduate grew up with both soccer and cheerleading over the course of grade school. Yet, at the influence of a family friend, she was encouraged to take a dip with swimming and diving and found a slot as a diver for Branford High School. The Hornets’ girls’ swimming and diving team senior captain was also a team manager for both the Branford boys’ ice hockey and boys’ lacrosse squads during her tenure.
Yet in January as a freshman at Sacred Heart University, Marina and the Pioneers’ cheerleading team secured its fourth-straight national title at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) competition in Orlando, Florida. The 30 student-athletes took to the mat at Orlando’s Walt Disney World Resort on Jan. 14, placing first in the UCA’s Open All-Girl Game Day category.
“The group of girls on this team is like a family to me,” says Marina. “They are always there for you. We all have a competitive mindset; we push each other to do our best, and no one wants to lose. We have been here together since Aug. 1 when we moved into our dorms, and it’s been really rewarding to see all the hard work finally pay off.”
Even when a Division I national crown is not on the line, Marina loves the feeling of knowing that nothing was held back when the squad walks off following a flawless routine. It makes it all worthwhile–even during the long days and late nights in practice.
“Competing is rewarding. It is rewarding knowing what you did was your best when you come off the mat with no regrets. It is also great to be inspired by the other girls,” Marina says. “Practice can be demanding. I love it, but sometimes you are there for so long that you miss home and your friends. Yet in the end, you know it is all worth it.”
The long road to nationals begins in the late summer when the entire program is split into smaller squads before the Pioneers work to perfect their craft in front of home fans. Even once the routine is devised on paper, it takes the total mind, body, and spirit of each individual involved to manifest magnificence.
“The entire team and program is made of 62 girls, and around September, we are divided into the Traditional and Game Day competition teams,” Marina says. “We then play around with skills and who will do what in each routine in the first few months, and we started piecing everything together from there with the routine. Our coach is a perfectionist. We stayed here for Christmas break and did our routine during home basketball games. It was helpful to get out and do our routine in front of people. Making sure everything is perfect is crucial, and it requires a lot of stamina, but it all has to be perfect and clean.”
CJ Sereno, the head cheerleading coach at SHU, details that no matter the task at hand or the duration to complete it, Marina does it all with a smile.
“Marina is very dedicated and hardworking,” says Sereno. “She never complains. She always comes to practice with a positive mindset and is willing to do whatever is asked of her.”
Coming back to a sport after several years can create apprehension alone, but doing it all as a college freshman can tack on additional trepidation. Yet Marina recalls that from Day 1, each one of her teammates and coaches has been nothing but warm, welcoming, and encouraging to the young freshman from Branford.
“We had a few practices over the summer, and then from Aug. 1 and on, we started bonding and preparing for UCA camp,” Marina says. “I was nervous because I had not been on a new team since 8th grade. The whole team was so welcoming; it is nice to know the girls are there for you. We also have a ‘Big Sister’ program with the team where an older girl mentors you as a freshman; it made me feel at home and made for an easy transition.”
Looking at the foundation for future success forged at Branford, Marina remarks that she was surrounded by only the best peers and professionals as she learned essential life skills in how to cope and overcome when a curveball is thrown at her.
“I loved Branford athletics; I had some great mentors and coaches involved,” says Marina. “It all made me a stronger person. I lost out on the COVID year as a junior with swimming, but I learned how to go with the flow and to not take anything for granted. Senior year I came in determined to make my last year count. It was such a welcoming community.”