Shelton cheer captured the Class L state championship. Team members, front row, are: Caileigh Cisero, Siena Mattiolo, Maura Carr and Alyssa Jardim; second row, Brynn Roscoe, Bella Anderson, Kaitlyn Heinz, Emma Quigley, Kendall Oksenberg, Julia Mosher, Sadie Brennan and Kayla Bailey; third row, Samantha Prodan, Mia Novais, Grace Krailler, Frankie Salvio, Leah Bailey, Christina McPadden, Ava Novais, tumbling coach Derron Forrest, coach Christine Pavone and assistant coach Katie Miller.
Shelton High Athletics / Contributed photoNEW HAVEN — Shelton cheer officially left two seasons being held in an emotional lockdown in its rearview mirror on Saturday when the Gaelettes won the Class L Class L All-Girls Varsity Division state championship at the Floyd Little Athletic Center.
“It is an amazing experience coming back to it. To hear the crowd, the excitement on the mat is a motivator,” Shelton coach Christine Pavone said. “What had happened the last few years is that emotion was taken away from a lot of kids. They couldn’t show emotion because no one saw it with that mask on. They were so used to being hidden behind that mask that they didn’t have to smile, show the joy of competing. This is a very hard-working team. They pushed themselves daily to make up for the loss of two years.”
It was Shelton’s sixth state title under Pavone, now in her 14th season. It has won 11 SCC championships and been named the state’s team of the year twice. North Haven was first runner-up. East Lyme was second runner-up.
Pavone credits her team for its ability to persevere.
“They overcame a lot of obstacles. I’m very proud of them,” she said. “I told them that whatever odds are against you, whatever obstacles face you, go in and hit your routine and prove yourself. They knew what they wanted, and they did it.”
Alyssa Jardim, Maura Carr and Caileigh Cisero captained the team to the title. Cisero was named SCC Most Outstanding Cheerleader. Carr, Siena Mattiolo and Cisero added All-State to their All-SCC honors.
“All three of my captains bring knowledge and presentation to the floor. All our five seniors, along with five juniors, stepped in and mentored the younger girls,” said Pavone, who was assisted by Katie Miller. “They competed (as freshmen and sophomores). So, they were able to lead our underclassmen, especially our freshman who were coming from a grade school level and had never competed on a varsity team.”
Continuity lost
Meets were virtual in 2021. There was no opposing squad to watch and judge. Teams went on the mat with only coaches and judges there to impress. Seniors teach juniors, who teach sophomores, who…
“We couldn’t use previous years because there wasn’t one. It was all-virtual,” Pavone said. “Everyone across state was in the same situation. You are allowed to do six competitions for scholastics. We would have had three or four but with this snow.”
Shelton placed third at SCCs. It was its first comp of the season.
Pavone said: “Cheer is judged. The scores can vary. With nothing to measure it by at SCCs I’ll take our third-place finish. I may be old school, but I’m big on positivity. There are times for constructive criticism. I know if they hit those skills the way I choregraphed them that you had five of the six skills that are in there -there is nothing we can change. All we can do is constant practice and know they hit them on the scoresheet. You can’t go back and fix (a judged routine). We can only move forward, make it sharper make it cleaner. That is what happened at states.”
Tradition
Cheer begins in the fall and carries into the spring.
“When I started, cheerleading was all about games,” Pavone said. “Cheering on football and basketball teams. Now we can cheer basketball three times a week and practice three nights a week. It has changed over the years. But the girls love having fans in the gym for basketball or being with the Finn Fanatics at football. That’s what cheer was way back when. Being old school, I try to emphasize that you cheer football, you cheer basketball. Then it becomes our season, our time to do our sport.
Pavone added: “We accomplished our goal and that was to win states. This weekend we have Team of the Year Competition at North Haven High with the top six teams from each division. I try to make this less stressful and tell them to have fun and prepare for regionals, which will be held March 19 at Worcester State (Mass.).”
william.bloxsom@hearstmediact.com Twitter: @blox354