Falcons fly home with three national titles

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr.

This past week the cheer and dance teams from the Eatontown-Tinton Falls Monmouth Falcons fly home from Florida with three national championship honors. The girls competed at the 2013 Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Lake Buena Vista.

Falcons sent a Jr Midget Dance team which is coached by Karen Farrah. That squad consisted of Julia Conover, Elizabeth Dailey, Erica Diedrichsen, Shannon Egan, Caitlin Fisher, Nicole Lastella, Lainie Leonardo, Jorden Nelson, Kaitlyn Petz, Briana Piscopiello, Adriana Randvere, Isabella Randvere, Melanie Robinson, Nicolise Pugliano, Sara Timney, Gianna Vega and Kayley Winter. They competed against six other teams from around the country.

Jr Midget Dance team which is coached by Karen Farrah. That squad consisted of Julia Conover, Elizabeth Dailey, Erica Diedrichsen, Shannon Egan, Caitlin Fisher, Nicole Lastella, Lainie Leonardo, Jorden Nelson, Kaitlyn Petz, Briana Piscopiello, Adriana Randvere, Isabella Randvere, Melanie Robinson, Nicolise Pugliano, Sara Timney, Gianna Vega and Kayley Winter. They competed against six other teams from around the country.

Taking the gold is something that Farrah is getting very good at. This was the fifth national championship that she has earned as head coach of the Jr Midget Dance team. With a 93.5 score the Falcons blew past New Egypt Warriors who placed second with 86.1 and the Harvey Colts took third with an 82.7 score.

Also taking the gold were the Pee Wee Dance team coached by Gina Gundel. They scored 81.46 while the Southwest Colts placed second with 79.32 and Ft Myers Firecats took third with 72.66. This was their second national title for the Jr Pee Wee squad which had Ally Alfano, Zyaire Anthony, Meghan DeVivo, Gianna Cecero, Lauren Colvin, Hailey Conover, Colleen Fisher, Danielle Gaetano, Aubrey Gallop, JaVonni Gibson, Jamie Lastella, Jacqualyn Peeke, Ashley Savoth, Julia Shafer, Dominique Sheridan, Juanita Steward and Dezire Taylor.

The Jr Pee Wee Dance team also won back-to-back national titles. That group scored 87.74 and beat Apex Cougars who finished second with 77.46, and the Palmetto Trojans took third with 77.04. Also in that division were the Southwest Colts, Fishhawk Wolfpack, Berkeley Jr Bears, Oak Park Trojans and the Jefferson Mustangs.

Alexas Bradley, Caroline Kelly, Caitlin Weisenhart, Olivia Weisenhart, Natalie Weisenhart, Kaytlin Czeslaw, Stephanie Paredes, Ja’Naiya Haskins, Joselyn Lewis, Carli Colfer, Hannah Rickert, Kristin LaValle, Isabella Gaetano, Isabella Bellucci, Ashley Simpson, Victoria Morabito, Mackenzie Riley, Cierra Miller, Trinity Lancaster, Adrianna Roberts, Annabelle Delanatus, and Mary Willi make up the Jr Pee Wee team, which is coached by Julia Shimazu.

Over 400 teams from across the country traveled to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the 2013 championships. Just like their male counterparts in football, the girls must qualify for the national event with state and regional competitions. The coaches for the Monmouth Falcons have demonstrated over the years a great skill in choreographing the routines that earn the girls national honors.