West Orange High School Cheerleaders Capture Championship

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange High School Cheerleaders captured their second straight SEC Liberty Division championship at the 10th Annual “Cheer for the Cure” hosted by Bloomfield High School and held at Foley Field on Oct. 6.

The Mountaineers also took home the crown in 2012 and 2013, school administrators noted in a news release.

“We are unbelievably proud of the girls,” Head Coach Olivia Del Spina said. “These ladies worked countless hours in practice to make this winning routine.”

According to school administrators, “Cheer for the Cure” has raised over $50,000 in the past five years for cancer research. Funds raised by the event will be distributed among the community food bank, Coaches v. Cancer, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

West Orange was named the SEC Champions of the Liberty Division, which included West Orange, Verona, Belleville, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Central and Barringer. The Mountaineers were also named the SEC Grand Champions of Stunting, topping all teams in all divisions.

The other winners included:

• Colonial Division: Montclair High School
• American Division: Nutley High School
• Overall best dance: Nutley High School

“We went into this competition with the goal to win the first place title and came home with two! It was an incredible experience and a great way to start off our competition season,” enthused Del Spina.

Assistant coaches for the team included Taylor Calixto and Anna D'Elia.

Members of the WOHS Varsity Cheerleading Team included:

• Amanda Scalora
• Brianna Griffin
• Danielle Arrabito
• Emma Scalora
• Erica Odoemne
• Grace Loma
• Jhada Close
• Johana Miranda
• Kassandra Castillo
• Kaycie Elifani
• Linnea Nichols
• Matigan Kohlman
• Nayesha Woolridge
• Nephtalie Celestine
• Olivianne Iriarte
• Oneida Aduko
• Rachel Scott
• Sarah Gold
• Skyler Fleisher
• Star Lawson
• Veronica Cardona
• Viviana Cardona

Photo: Cynthia Cumming

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