WAYLAND, MA — Wayland-Weston's young cheerleaders will bring their award-winning routines before a hometown crowd this weekend.
The Wayland-Weston Youth Cheer program will celebrate a championship season at a showcase this weekend. The program is made up of three squads, including the Tiny Warriors, Mighty Warriors and Junior Warriors.
The Mighty Warriors, made up of students in grades three through five, won their age group at the Eastern Massachusetts Youth Football and Cheerleading Championship last weekend.
Meanwhile, the program's Junior team previously won the Power in Pink Competition in Waltham on Oct. 3, while the Tiny Warriors delivered a zero-deduction performance at their most recent competition.
"Our athletes have shown tremendous dedication to their teams this season," the program's coaches told Patch. " Our athletes have shown up eager to learn and try new things and have had such an amazing work ethic this year."
The recreational program includes 62 cheerleaders across three teams: the Tiny Warriors for grades one and two, the Mighty Warriors for grades three through five and the Junior Warriors for grades six through eight. There are no tryouts or cuts.
The program was revived by Nicole Melanson and Jeanne Chiang in 2020 before being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It restarted in 2021 with 22 cheerleaders on two teams.
Courtney Connery became the program's coordinator in 2023 and Lisa Battistoni joined as a head coach, bringing competitive coaching experience. The teams then entered the Eastern Massachusetts Youth Football and Cheerleading League while continuing to cheer for Wayland-Weston football teams. Karina Dodor now leads the program.
Participation has grown each year. The Tiny Warriors expanded from nine cheerleaders in 2024 to 16 last year and 21 this season.
The coaches credited the program's growth to its athletic focus, support for cheerleaders of all skill levels and help from parent volunteers.
"To now be in a place where we are winning competitions is a fantastic accomplishment," the coaches told Patch. "It shows them that their hard work is paying off and we love seeing how proud they are."
The program will hold a public showcase Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Wayland High School Fieldhouse. Doors open at 3 p.m. and performances begin at 3:30 p.m.
Each team will perform its competition routine. Cheerleaders will also demonstrate individual skills, including tumbling passes and jumps that may not appear in their routines.
"Sunday's showcase will be an opportunity to see each of the three teams perform their competition routines," the coaches told Patch. "It will be a chance for the community to see cheer as a sport and not just an activity. We hope to show everyone how hard these athletes have worked all season and to entertain the crowd with some action-packed fun."
The showcase is free to attend, but donations will be accepted at the door and prize baskets will be raffled. Those unable to attend can also donate through Venmo at WWYFC.
The program is raising money for additional mats and gym space. All three teams currently share one set of mats in a single school gym, limiting their practice time, coaches told Patch.
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