During a recent camp held by the New England Cheerleader’s Association (NECA), Waterford cheerleader Megan Nailon received a bid to cheer in the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl. Nailon is one of six cheerleaders from Waterford that has been given the opportunity to perform at the game.
Cheerleaders across the country are given bids, or invitations, to participate in the Pro Bowl based on their skill level. From those bids, the first 500 cheerleaders to raise enough money for the event are given spots on the field. The event is scheduled to be held in Hawaii this January.
Nailon's fundraising efforts are not far away. And while she hasn't decided how she is going to raise funds yet, she promises she'll put the effort in to win.
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Other Awards
In addition to her bid, Nailon also received awards for best gymnast, best jump, and came in third place for best overall cheerleader at NECA’s camp.
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As a group, the WHS cheerleaders who attended camp were honored with the congeniality award. Unlike the other awards, which were decided by judges, the congeniality award was voted on by the cheerleaders themselves. Teams from East Lyme, Enfield, Colchester, and all the way from New Hampshire, chose Waterford High School as most congenial.
History
Nailon has been cheering for a total of eight years. She started her career at the age of seven as a participant at Seacost Cheer Sensation, located in Maine. After moving to Connecticut, Nailon has been a part of Waterford’s youth league from micros all the way through juniors.
After finishing her freshmen year, Nailon had a fun yet disappointing first season cheering for the high school. Despite bonding with new friends, Nailon wishes her team had placed in the Eastern Connecticut Conference (ECC).
“We were supposed to be second or third, but a 20 point deduction was taken from our pyramid not being complete," she said. "Another 25 points were taken away because a front spot made contact with a flyer’s foot."
“It was a growing year with a new coach,” Nailon’s mom, Michelle, said.
For the past four years Nailon has simultaneously cheered for Waterford and East Celebrity Elite. Aside from the unsatisfying results of the ECC competition, Nailon has competed in approximately 45 other competitions at the all-star level.
“I become a photographer, videographer and hairdresser,” joked Michelle Nailon when explaining her role at her daughter’s many competitions.
“It is exciting, I love watching,” she said, “I was a cheerleader but never had the opportunity to learn the tumbling skills, so it’s exciting to watch her.”
Last year’s national held by the Universal Cheerleaders Association at the Wide World of Sports complex in Disney has been the farthest the Nailon family has traveled for cheerleading, so far. Megan Nailon hopes to add Hawaii and an appearance at the NFL Pro Bowl to her list of performance venues.
