Holmdel Pee Wee Cheerleaders Get Ready for the Showdown

On a recent balmy September Saturday night, Holmdel's Roggy Field was buzzing with youth football games and the moves of Holmdel Pee Wee cheerleaders who impressed with their enthusiasm and incredible elasticity.

At halftime the cheerleaders captured everyone's attention with their athletic routine performed on the turf to the beat of the Black Eyed Peas hip-hop song "Showdown" crackling over the loudspeakers. (Over on the visiting side, a Manalapan mother was overheard saying the cheerleaders were "pretty awesome.")

The Pee Wee cheerleading team is organized under the American Youth Cheer program. 

According to head coach Kimberly LaMountain, the 2011 squad includes 30 girls from the 6th and 7th grades. The girls cheer at the football games but also participate at a competetive level. 

On October 9th, they will compete against other Jersey Shore teams at the Sun Arena in Trenton. "If they do well, the girls will advance to Eastern Regions, which is held in November," said LaMountain. "Last year, this team placed third at Nationals, held in Disney, and they are hoping to do just as well this year!"

In addition to cheering, the girls have been participating in an event called Huddle to Fight Hunger.  (Read Retired NFL QB Joe Montana's story about it here.) At the last home game, the Holmdel Football Association organized a bake sale and a canned goods collection. On Thursday, Sept. 29, the cheerleaders are volunteering at a local soup kitchen where they will help prepare the food as well as serve it.

The following is a roster for the Pee Wee Cheer Team from the
the Saturday night game on Sept. 24, 2011.
 
Emily Adams
Samantha Byrne
Alexa Cherchio
Samantha Cronin
Megan Cushing
Bianca D'Acunto
Anna DeSario
Katelyn Dinkowitz
Julia Dokhgan
Kaitlyn Eknoian
 
Bailey Foreman
Jessica  Gershenow
Catherine Guilfoyle
Katrina Kliman
Emily LaMountain
Jessica Limbach
Holly Locklin
Julianna Montella
Samantha Moryto
Nina Rose Muldoon
Victoria O'Dell
Catherine Ongsiako
Daniella Pagoumian
Rebecca Pagoumian
Carly Pfleger
Pauline Protentis
Allison Sergi
Alexis Shaw
Tina Vartanian
Alexandra Wojtunik

Head Coach: Kimberley LaMountain
Asst. Coaches:  Cindy Ongsiako, Brianna Ongsiako, MaryAnn Montella, Christine Guilfoyle
Student Demonstrators:  Michelle Pizzon, Ashley Lang, Andrea Monfansi