Riverhead Cheerleaders Get First Place at Winter Cheer Classic. Now Headed to Disney World!

Could the Riverhead High School Varsity Cheerleaders end up being the nation champions of the United States? It’s all very possible. BRING IT ON!

Rivehead High School Varsity Cheerleaders earned a first place title at the Winter Cheer Classic in East Islip on Sunday. The squad competed against eight varsity cheerleading teams that included Newfield, Patchogue-Medford, West Hampton Beach, Ward Melville, Holy Trinity, Carle Place and St. Anthony’s.

The Blue Waves Varsity Cheerleaders will now go on to compete in the National High School Cheerleading Championships (UCA) at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL on February 9-10.

Coach Stephanie Piraino is very pleased with the team, which consists of Miranda Bennett, Amber Kempermann, Gabby Grace, Gianna Pino (Captains), Suzanne Burke, Carly Klerk, Marissa Evans, Kelly Anderson, Lexi Davis, Ardis Corwin, Shannon Allwinn, Ines Garcia, and Miranda Alliotta. The assistant coach is Ellen Pisano.

“The team began preparing for competition in August by attending the UCA Pine Forest Elite Camp in the Poconos,” Piraino shared. “The cheerleaders also practice six days a week, support the football and basketball teams, and compete at their own tournaments since November. The team, with the help of our fabulous booster club, was able to raise all the funds to attend the national competition.”

All teams were required to compete and win at the regional level in order to earn a bid to the national competition. The NHSCC UCA Nationals take place next week. The cheerleaders leave Friday, February 8, and compete Saturday, February 9, and Sunday, February 10. The national competition is televised on ESPN, and includes coverage of all the teams competing.

GO BLUE WAVES!