Drury Cheerleaders Excel on Mats, in Classroom
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Not only has the Drury cheerleading squad succeeded in the classroom this season, but they’re also looking to continue their success this March when they compete for their first ever Western Massachusetts title.
The 18-girl squad has 14 of its members who made honor roll this past quarter. This is something co-coaches Victoria Tarsa and Aja Daugherty are quite proud of.
“My team is incredibly dedicated,” Tarsa said. “They show up every weekend for 8 a.m. practice and research stunts on their own time.”
During the winter season, the team practices three to four times a week as opposed to the fall when they practice six days a week. This is due to the lack of space available due to the basketball teams using the gym. Tarsa said the team often practices in the front foyer of the school.
“It’s the only other space available with extended ceiling height,” she said. “It’s very difficult. The girls sacrifice a lot in the winter.”
Tarsa and Daugherty have been coaching the squad since 2013, but the two have been a part of cheerleading together since the early '90s when they both cheered and competed together for Drury.
“I helped coach a squad in the early millennium,” Tarsa said. “I also helped coach Aja’s squad after I graduated.”
The two have a lot of experience together. That goes back to the days when they were on the mats themselves. Tarsa has also been licensed by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.
“Things are very different from when we cheered,” Tarsa said. “It’s a constant learning process for us as rules and technique change constantly.”
“We make a good team however, we work very well together.”
Prior to Tarsa taking over the team, they didn’t do much in the way of stunting. Tarsa explained that their routines are typically highly skilled, with lengthy dance routines, and high skill stunts.
“Our flyers have come a very long way this year, perfecting high skill stunts and performing them beautifully,” she said. “This is one point the girls are constantly thanking me for, they have always had the skill, they have just never been given the opportunity to use it.”
The squad has been preparing for the Western Massachusetts competition since October. They submitted a letter of intent to compete in their Division to the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators' Assocation and will go up against seven other schools, if they all compete.
“We’ve been practicing the competition routine since October,” Tarsa said. “We are still not quite ready, timing is a huge factor in these routines, everyone must be synched.”
The squad will continue to dedicate their time to their competition routine, among their responsibilities in the classroom where the past quarter's honor roll list shows they have been putting in hard work as well.
High honors members:
Seniors: Lindsey Gray, Cat Marceau, Brandi Robertson. Juniors: Madison Tarsa, Madison Marceau, Mayan Zungy, Jenevieve Gavazzi, Sara Pontier. Sophomores: MacKenzie Wright. 8th grader: Erin Marceau
Honors members:
Seniors: Allie Therrien and Monica Thomas. Junior: Destiny Lawrence. Sophomore: Elizabeth Bona.