City Council honors Novato High cheer team

The Novato High varsity cheer and dance team was honored by the Novato City Council on Tuesday, April 26, for finishing in first place in its division at the United Spirit Association Nationals in March. It was the first such triumph at the competition in school history.

The council presented the team with a proclamation.

The City Council “wishes to congratulate and honor the Novato High Varsity Cheer and Dance Team on their prestigious accomplishment … and thank them for their commitment to supporting and representing the Novato community,” said the proclamation, signed by Mayor Pat Eklund.

The proclamation noted, “This success would not have been possible without the knowledge, leadership, devotion and 26 years of experience by their Coach Patti Nave.”

At the competition at the Anaheim Convention Center, the Hornets beat 17 other high school teams in the Large Varsity Show Cheer Novice Division. The three-day event drew more than 11,000 competitors from hundreds of schools.

The Hornets were led by captains Megan McGrath, Abby Peach and Sophia Crescibene, and co-captains Claire Uicker and Emma Weisberg. Other members were Shayda Bakhtiari, Cinthia Benitez, Alex De Greef, Gisselle De Leon, Kenya Dickerson, Daniella Ingargiola, Eliana Katelanis, Nami Kong, Lily Manshouri, Roya Manshouri, Natalie Moran, Lauren Pratt, Kiley Santella, Megan Santella and Kaziah Watson.

Nave is assisted in coaching the team by Dolly Nave-Kirkpatrick and Cathy Caliguire.