Community Gathers To Send-Off Riverhead Cheer Team Off To Nationals

RIVERHEAD, NY — The community is invited to send the Riverhead High School varsity cheer team off to a national competition in Florida in a big way.

The sendoff will take place at the Riverhead Middle School gym, located at 600 Harrison Ave., on Monday night at 7:30 p.m.

Supporters have also been contributing A GoFundMe page, "Help Riverhead Varsity Cheer Get To Nationals," created by parent Francine Pantaleo, to help with expenses.

"Calling all Blue Waves fans," she wrote. "The Riverhead Varsity Cheer athletes need your help. These nine strong, determined athletes have earned bids to the UCA Cheer Nationals in Orlando this February for both their traditional and game-day routines. This is a first for them, earning two bids, and with only a small but mighty team of 9. They need your help to get there."

The more-than $20,000 cost of the trip is not financed by the district, Pantaleo wrote. " We need your support, which will help get these amazing athletes there and realize their Nationals dreams. We are asking that our friends, family, community and alumni donate and help them ride the wave to nationals!"

Pantaleo expressed her pride in the girls after the recent December Empire Regional Competition: "Our varsity girls pulled out a terrific routine and won second place and a bid to nationals in Orlando at regionals at Long Island University," she said. "All this with only nine athletes."

She added: "They are small but mighty with grit and determination, and are ready to make a big splash in Orlando. They fight for every routine, perform sick because they have no alternates. They win every day by showing up"

Coach Stephanie Piraino was thrilled for her athletes: "This year, we did something that Riverhead cheerleading has never done. Not only did we win a bid in two varsity events, game day and traditional cheer, but we did it with nine athletes."

She added: "This is so incredible because with nine there is zero room for error. Every single athlete on the mat has to pull their own weight, be their very best, and shine at every point in the routine."

She and the other varsity coaches Susan Ries and Chelsea Cawley are "beyond proud" of how hard "these incredible athletes have worked," she said.

Not only did they have to rework their routine soon before the season began, but they did it with a positive attitude and a sense of purpose, Piraino said.

As the Riverhead cheerleading coach for 16 years, Piraino said she is beyond proud to work with the girls. "They are taking ownership of their routine, putting in the work every day, and stepping up to this challenge. Our motto has always been, 'Anything is possible with hard work.' And the end result of the Empire Regional competition this weekend showed our girls that this really is true."

Coming in second out of 14 was an incredible accomplishment, Piraino said. "Now we continue to work as we are heading to Orlando in mid-February to compete at the prestigious USA high school nationals."

To donate to the GoFundMe page, click here.

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