TRENTON, NJ – The Arthur L. Johnson High School varsity competition cheerleaders invest their time and energy rallying the crowds and encouraging fellow Crusaders to win throughout the various sporting seasons.
This past weekend they motivated themselves to victory as they defeated a long list of Group 2 schools before capturing their second straight New Jersey Cheerleading and Dance Coaches Association (NJCDCA) Group 2 State Championship against Delaware Valley HS Sunday afternoon at the Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton
“This journey has not been an easy one,” Athena Petronella said. “Our team has faced may obstacles throughout the season, but we never lost faith in each other. In the end, we knew exactly what we had to in order to perfect our routine and ultimately, we had an outstanding performance at states.”
The girls began learning their routine in the month of October and then repeatedly perform it throughout the entire season.
“A successful cheerleading team takes teamwork,” Johnson cheerleading head coach Lindsey Barrett said. “Our entire senior class has played an important role in leading the Johnson Varsity Competition team to claiming this NJ Group 2 State Championship. They were all part of the state championship winning team last year and knew exactly what it took to be able to re-claim the title for the second year in a row.”
The cheerleaders worked on practicing many different parts of the routine, including the cheers, the jumps, standing tumbling, basket tosses, one-leg sequences, running tumbling, pyramids and dancing throughout the year. Barrett and Assistant Coaches Cristina Faro and Suzanne Hamilton guide the team members through the paces but count on the girls to help each other progress too.
Full Coverage of Johnson Varsity Cheerleading Competition NJCDCA Group 2 State Championship Here
