On the evening of March 23rd, the 2014-2015 Crusader Cheer Team celebrated their annual convocation with family in the Terrace. It was a year of great stunt highs, crucial injury lows, and a very solid middle. That solid middle was a team that cheered their hearts out at football and basketball games well into the post season playoffs, pulled together a completely new routine a week before competition because of an injury, and came together as a tighter team than they were prior to the beginning of the competition season.
Coach Jessica Spitale Fresina spoke with much emotion about the seniors who will be leaving this year. Some of these seniors have been on the Brother Martin team for 5 years, and Coach Spitale even knew some of the girls from helping her mom coach at St. Catherine of Siena. Now she proudly sends them off to LSU and Mississippi State to confidently become members of those prestigious cheer programs.
Several awards were given at the convocation. Former Brother Martin cheerleader, Wesley Smith ’12, assisted Jessica with the presentation of the awards. Wesley has become an assistant, in helping to share his knowledge with the guys on the team. The award winners are as follows (each category has a male and a female winner):
Best Gameday Cheerleader – Holly Monk and Jeffry Parfait
Most Improved Rookie – Ashley Stall and Dominic Brocato
Rookie of the Year – Jordyn Prattini and Alex Hererra
Most Improved Vet – Jensen Liljeberg and Harrison Trepagnier
Most Valuable Cheerleader – Elizabeth LeRouge and Adrian Burgos
Leadership Award – Callie Frey and Harrison Trepagnier
Thanks to the families of the Cheer team for their incredible support throughout the year. A special thanks to Michelle LeRouge for compiling photos of the team for the video shown at the convocation.
The convocation may have just happened this past week, but the 2015-2016 team has already begun their year. Try-outs were held in mid-February for new girls to fill spots vacated by the seniors and add to the compliment of tumbling skills already on the team. Several open practices were held for the Brother Martin students to see if they have what it takes to be a Crusader Cheerleader. An official announcement of the team will be made in the very near future.
