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The Sig Rogich Middle School cheerleading team recently won a pair of national tournaments, including the junior high advanced division of the National Cheerleading Association’s nationals in Dallas.
Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 | 5:05 p.m.
The Sig Rogich Middle School cheerleading team has been victorious in a pair of national tournaments in recent weeks, including capturing the junior high advanced division of the National Cheerleading Association’s nationals in Dallas.
“It is such a huge deal,” said Claudine Robinson, the team’s coach. “The kids have worked so hard to get to this point and they fought the entire way.”
The team practices about eight hours weekly and also performs during the school’s basketball games. They prepared for nationals by working on advanced-level stunts and tumbling, as well as jumps, cheers, motions and “perfecting a routine,” Robinson said.
The team also won its division last weekend at the Jamz Cheer and Dance nationals.
Out of hundreds of teams in the division, three qualified for the finals in Dallas. Teams qualified through their placement in a prior competition.
Rogich was in second place going into day 2. It then recorded a 90.50 on the second day to eke out a win, beating out a school from Oklahoma by .03 of a percentage point.
Ginger Woodworth, an eighth grader who has been involved in cheerleading since kindergarten, said her favorite trick is their kick-full stunt. “I like representing our school,” Woodworth said. “And it’s really fun having a good bond.”
Teammate Emma Larson added, “I’m really happy that we all won, because like it’s something we all really wanted to do.”
Robinson says the team is packed with talented performers. She was a cheerleader as a child, and jokes that she probably wasn’t good enough to make the Rogich team.
She strives to instill in them hard work, perseverance and a solid work ethic.
“Show up, be prepared, be ready to go, and just do your best,” the coach said. “It’s never going to be perfect. But what are we gonna do to recover? How are you going to figure it all out? And they’re really good at that.”
Members of the team include: Vanessa Casolari, Abby Clement, Navy Dannels, Sophia Ewell, Peyton Giacomino, Emily Giannokostas, Sydney Hemberger, Mikayla Henderson, Emma Larson, Taylor Lomax, Ainsley McCoy, Ava Naglich, Ariana Rios, Brynn Robinson, Madison Silva, Sarah Sommella, Gabriella Taliaferro, Ariahuna Timmons, Brielle Wood and Ginger Woodworth.
