The Rye Varsity Cheerleading Team took to Section 1 Class B Sectionals on Sunday, November 1, competing with 12 other schools in Port Chester, New York. Although the Garnets failed to place, their presence at the sectional competition marks a major step for their quickly-developing program.
“While we may not have walked away with a placement, we walked away with something just as important: the knowledge that we belong on that mat,” head coach Belinda DeFonce told MyRye.com. “Our team delivered an outstanding performance, earning scores that were competitive with many of the nation’s top programs.”
Eastchester walked away with a first-place finish, followed by Yorktown, the runners-up. Overall, the level of cheer at the competition was extremely high. Most programs in attendance have well-established track records of excellence, including national championships.
“As a young and growing program, we are incredibly proud of how far this team has come,” DeFonce continued. “We are building something special, and the talent, determination, and potential within this group are undeniable. This is only the beginning for Rye Cheer.”
The Garnets qualified for sectionals after the team as a whole and each individual athlete participated in a minimum of three gameday competitions. Successfully qualifying for sectionals is a major step forward for the growing program, which DeFonce believes can become nationally competitive in the years to come.
Rye will now focus forward to the winter season, where they will once again be competing in traditional cheerleading. The Garnets will look to qualify for winter sectionals and continue their development both as individual athletes and as a team.
