Fairport cheerleaders perform their routine during the Section V Fall Cheerleading Championships held at RIT’s Gordon Field House on Saturday, October 31, 2015.
HENRIETTA – Prior to last February, Fairport or Penfield combined to win the top classification in each of the past five Section V winter and fall cheerleading championships.
But to align with the new classifications by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, which voted in April 2014 to start recognizing cheerleading as a sport (Section V had already done so), the Red Raiders and Patriots found themselves in different classes.
Good news for Fairport and Penfield, who don’t have to go head-to-head anymore, and bad news for the rest of the Rochester area’s large schools. The Red Raiders and Patriots did it again on Saturday, as Fairport won the Division I large team title and Penfield the Division I small team crown at the Section V Fall Cheerleading Championships at RIT’s Gordon Field House.
That’s exactly how it went down in last February’s winter competition, too.
“It’s definitely awesome to win even though we have been known for winning,” said Fairport senior Emily Bischoff said. “I think we’re going to be having a little celebration.”
Fairport has been a powerhouse for more than a decade under 17-year coach Elaine McGurk and Penfield is becoming that under 10-year coach Carolyn Valenti. More than 50 schools competed Saturday with seven trophies being handed out.
Other winners were Webster Schroeder in the newer Co-Ed division with seven teams, Geneva (Division 2A Large), Hornell (2A Small), Avon (2B Large) and Perry (2B Small).
Schools are classified Division I or II based on enrollment numbers. It’s the size of their squad that determines whether it’s in “large” or “small” competition that’s how big schools such as Penfield, Rush-Henrietta and Greece Athena ended up “small.”
The cutoff is 16 cheerleaders. Field a team with 17 or more, you’re in the “large” class.
There are no state championships for fall cheerleading, but the winter states will be held the first weekend in March in Syracuse, said Section V coordinator Joanne Small.
“It’s really hard to get to the top, so I don’t want to belittle any of that. The work that it takes to get there is just unbelievable,” said Valenti, whose squad broke through for its first ever win in the 2013 winter championships and has since won one fall (2013) and two winter (2014 and 2015) crowns.
“But to stay on top, I do feel like it’s even more difficult because there’s always people out there trying to beat you.”
Fairport’s Caroline Kelly finishes a tumbling pass.
Fairport has been motivated by that feeling for several years.
“When you put on this uniform you get a bunch of confidence … at the same time you get a lot of hate,” said Fairport senior Kaela Lush. “But, you look past that and try to prove people wrong.”
Fairport and Penfield do that with precision and stunts and off-the-charts energy.
“I think our dance sets us apart from everyone else,” said Penfield senior Madison Eckman. “It’s really fun to watch. It flows.”
How is near perfection achieved?
“Practice, practice, practice,” said Penfield junior Caitlin Blondin, a captain with Eckman.
In recent years as gymnastics moves and acrobatics have become more prevalent in high school cheerleading, Fairport’s squads have become known for having strong tumbling.
“They like to challenge themselves every year,” McGurk said about her entire group. “When they come into a new season, they try to think about what we’ve done last year and they always want to step it up.”
Ultimately, McGurk knows results aren’t as meaningful as learning this: “I tell them coming off the mat and knowing that you did the best that you could ever do … that’s what you work for.”
JDIVERON@Gannett.com
Penfield cheerleaders perform their routine.
Section V Fall Cheerleading Championships
(Top five only)
Division 1A Large: Fairport 115.9, Spencerport 111.85, Greece Arcadia 108.4, Webster Thomas 105.3, Pittsford 102.65. Nancy Saxton Leadership Award: Anna Bailey (Faiport). Coach of the Year: Elaine McGurk (Fairport).
Division 1A Small: Penfield 114, Rush-Henrietta 112.65, Greece Athena 108.2, Gates Chili 102.8, Churchville-Chili 98.25. Leadership Award: Madison Eckman (Penfield). Coach of the Year: Rachel Telisky (R-H).
Co-Ed: Webster Schroeder 111.65, Eastridge 108.25, East Rochester 104.5, Honeoye Falls-Lima 101.6, LeRoy 95.5. Leadership Award: Dominic LaSpina (Webster Schroeder). Coach of Year: Savannah Buschang (HF-L).
2A Large: Geneva 101.5, Aquinas 99.1 Leadership Award: Hailey Luongo (Geneva). Coach of Year: Donna Morrell (Geneva).
2A Small: Hornell 99.95, Wayne 95.15, Greece Olympia 94.9, Palmyra-Macedon 93.35, Bath 85. Leadership Award: Mary Grace Gambino (Hornell). Coach of Year: Regina Gambino (Hornell).
2B Large: Avon 102.05, Pembroke 78.7, Clyde-Savannah 52.05. Leadership Award: Mary Welch (Avon). Coach of Year: Ashleigh Herkimer (Avon).
Division 2B Small: Perry 106.35, Warsaw 96.6, Dundee 92.9, Caledonia-Mumford 82.3, Red Jacket 76. Leadership Award: Breasia McCrea (Perry). Coach of Year: Sandy Graham (Perry).