National Champion Pop Warner Cheerleaders Honored by Braintree Officials

Mayor Joseph Sullivan set high expectations for the Braintree Pop Warner A Team Cheerleaders Tuesday night.

"Next year you've got to do it all over again," he said.

Sullivan, of course, was talking about the squad's national championship victory in Florida last month, in which Braintree toppled 11 other teams in the Midget Cheer Level 2 Medium division.

"Braintree's proud of you," the mayor said during a celebration at Town Hall prior to the Town Council meeting. He gave commendations to the cheerleaders and encouraged them to stay focused on academics and listen to their parents.

The cheerleaders received the highest score out of 65 teams in addition to their division win, coach Kelly Fichtner said, including versus higher level teams. They were also 5th out of more than 400 teams and scored the second highest for the week in choreography.

"Being part of their success is a memory that will last a lifetime," Fichtner told town councilors.

"Cherish it. Honor it. And thank the people that got you there," Councilor Paul "Dan" Clifford said.