4 Brick AYC Cheer Teams Win Trophies At National Championships

BRICK, NJ — Four cheerleading teams from Brick, two each from the Mustangs and Dragons, came home with trophies last weekend from the 2017 American Youth Cheer National Championships in Orlando, FL.

“We are super proud of all the girls representing Brick Township,” said Dave Betten, president of the Brick Memorial Mustangs Football and Cheer Association. “They have been working hard since July and all of their hard work has paid off.”

Two of the teams, the Brick Mustangs Division 14 Large Red team and the Brick Dragons Division 8 Small White team, won national championships in their divisions, taking hom the much-coveted red jacket.

This year the competition was more challenging, as th AYC instituted a new two-day format this year. In the past, the teams that traveled , dubbed “Super Sunday.”

The Mustangs D14 Large Red team went undefeated in its competitions this year, team officials said, sweeping first place at the Jersey Shore, Big East, and both days of the National Championship events. The 25-member squad—which included two girls who usually compete for the Dragons—handily defeated teams from across the country on both the first and second days of competition, winning by a total score of more than seven points over the second-place team, the Bedford Bulldogs of New Hampshire.

"I could not be prouder of all the Brick cheerleaders," Mustangs D14 coach Stacy Yurcho said. “They have practiced three to four days a week for the last five months, and this weekend all of their hard work paid off. Together with their parents they have made sacrifices for this sport, and to take home four trophies for Brick is a huge accomplishment!"

In the D8 Small White competition, the Dragons and Mustangs competed head-to-head, with the Dragons' 15-member squad edging their crosstown competitors by nine-tenths of a point. Team officials said that was a reverse of the prior two competitions, Jersey Shore and Big East, which the Mustangs' 10-member team won.

In the D12 Small White competition, the Brick Dragons' 16-member squad that earlier this year were Jersey Shore and Big East champions, earned third place, behind the Texas Toros and the Fauquier Wolfpack.

"We could not have asked for a better season for all four teams from Brick,” said Holly Geronimo, cheer coordinator for the Brick Dragons. “Coaching with the Mustangs this year while they hosted two of my older cheerleaders I know that the girls on all four teams made a lot of sacrifices to be at practices and football games all season and really earned those top spots. Both organizations are also very fortunate to have amazing volunteers for coaches and high school demonstrators who make this all possible.”

TEAM ROSTERS

Brick Memorial Mustangs D8 Small White

• Head Coach Lauren McKenna
• Coach Lilli Giardelli
• Coach Robin Weingartner
• Coach Marlene Paulin
• Demo Coach Kaitlyn Barrett
• Demo Coach Kaylee Aderente
• Angela Marotta
• Lexi Weingartner
• Caroline Paugh
• Mariah Paulin
• Sophia Baxter
• Taylor Alexander
• Bella Schmitz
• Isabella Neal
• Payton Rosamilia
• Cameryn Platt

Brick Memorial Mustangs D14 Large Red

• Head Coach Stacy Yurcho
• Coach Megan Barrett
• Coach Carolyn Betten
• Coach Danielle Covert
• Coach Holly Geronimo
• Demo Coach Dominique DiGuilmi
• Demo Coach Kelly Leath
• Rhianna Menshon
• Sara Carballo
• Andraya Bevaequa
• Tess Ryder
• Ella Betten
• Chloe Betten
• Gia Scaramella
• Emma Monaghan
• Jenna Czajkowski
• Emily Dolan
• Kayla Lang
• Eliana Spanola
• Grainne Marino
• Shelby Weingartner
• Emma Rinyak
• Angelina Canjura
• Alison Rojas
• Jordyn Ramos
• Avery Rosamilia
• Gianna Platt
• Ainsley Mazzeo
• Madison Yurcho
• Raigan Andrews
• Jocelyn Canjura

Brick Dragons D8 Small White

• Cheer Coordinator Holly Geronimo
• Head Coach Courtney Meyer
• Asst. Coach Jennifer Glass
• Hayden Graf
• Sabrina Glass
• Caroline Kowantz
• Gianna Deresz
• Isabella Davila
• Shayla Baca
• Jaden Erven
• Ava Rose Stampfel
• Julia Sprague
• Ava Norman
• Grace Yakovchuk
• Ava Morse
• Ava Balog
• Kylie Meyer
• Angelina Tavernite

Brick Dragons D12 Small White

• Cheer Coordinator Holly Geronimo
• Head Coach Tracy Barcus
• Asst Coach Terri Krsyzckowski
• Jordan Vargas
• Arina Svirska
• Alexis Ortiz
• Allison Jakubiw
• Kaylah Jones
• Jayna Stango
• Sarah Barcus
• Marcella Walsh
• Beatrice Labozzetta-MccRea
• Tiffany Zandomenego
• Riley Ascolese
• Francesca Ascolese
• Taylor Fattarusso
• Victoria Calderise
• Olivia Krsyzckowski
• Ava Rose Scelfo

Photo credits: Brick Mustangs D14, Paul Mazzeo; Brick Dragons D8, Courtesy of Holly Geronimo; Brick Mustangs D8, Lauren McKenna; Brick Dragons D12, courtesy of Holly Geronimo