Boro honors cheer squad for national achievement
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD - - Members of the Golden Bear Chargers Pee Wee cheerleading squad were recognized at Borough Hall recently after placing third in a national competition.

The Pee Wees, made up of girls ages 11-13 from East Brunswick and Spotswood, competed in December at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., securing the bronze medal. To get there, the girls won first place in the state for their category and second in the regionals.

To honor its efforts and success, the Pop Warner squad was given a proclamation from Mayor Barry Zagnit during the Jan. 22 Borough Council meeting.

"The Golden Bear Chargers Pee Wee Cheerleaders have worked hard and brought home not only trophies, but also recognition for the Golden Bear Chargers of Spotswood, East Brunswick and Helmetta and the community," the proclamation reads.

Councilman Edward Seely, who is president of the Pop Warner league and whose daughter, Kristin, is on the cheerleading squad, said that historically Spotswood Pop Warner never had enough kids to exist as its own entity, so it merged with East Brunswick. The Spotswood team had been named the Chargers and East Brunswick team the Golden Bears, so the new team kept both names upon the merger.

Seely, who went to the national event, said that even though Florida was rather chilly it was "still a great time."

The girls' routine consisted of cheers and dancing, he said, and even though it lasted only about two-and-a-half minutes, it took months of intense work. The girls practiced from August through December, including four days a week before school began and three days after.

"You have to maintain a certain grade point average with Pop Warner," he said.

It was the first time in the organizations' 40-year history that the cheerleading squad placed at the nationals, Seely said.

It was a particularly good year for Spotswood Pop Warner. The three competitive football teams made the playoffs, two competitive cheer teams went to Florida, and the Junior Pee Wee football team narrowly missed going to Florida for a competition.

Each girl on the Pee Wee cheerleading team received a bronze medal at the national event. They were also given state championship trophies, runner-up regional trophies and Central Jersey medals.

Seely said the national event was held over three days. The event also included study halls so the girls could do schoolwork while they were away.

"Pop Warner really emphasizes the academic end of it," Seely said.

Seely made the trip along with other parents and football commissioner Ian Vitale. Also on board were cheer commissioner Lynn McSpadden, head coach Susan DeStefano, and assistant coaches Daniela Fishman and Laura Bacskosczky.