Division Avenue Cheerleaders Make School History

LEVITTOWN, NY — For the first time in the program's history, the Division Avenue High School Varsity Cheerleading team made it to the final round of the Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championship and placed 11th out of 90 teams in the Small DII category. The team also competed in a new category, Medium Varsity Game Day, and made it to semifinals.

Over the course of three days, cheer athletes competed a total of six times and put on outstanding performances each round. This team is comprised of all underclassmen, and is led by junior captains Danielle Kennedy, Sydney Martins, Sofia Rella and Ava Soto. The girls said they want to continue to push themselves and their teammates to the next level, and that means working harder on the off season and putting in the extra time. They have high expectations for next year.

“We’ve been together since we were younger and we’re super determined,” said Rella. “We have a deep level of trust for one another.”

“We’re all like family; we spend hours every day together,” said Kennedy.

“We went in very prepared, and we were confident,” Soto said. “Weeks before the competition, we got in a huddle and decided to work on the routine we had and perfect it – and that’s what we did. That’s what got us that far, the hard work that we put in.”

“The feeling of moving on to the final round was incredible,” said Martins. “Before they announce your team to move on, it’s so nerve wracking because you don’t know what will happen. We just waited, holding each other’s hands and hoping that we make it.”

This is the seventh year that Coaches Cristen Ronzo and Liz Lynch have been leading the varsity cheer team together.

"We are so proud of this young team and the progress they made this year,” said Ronzo. “Their confidence grew throughout the competition, and it showed on the judges' score sheets.”

“Their success is evidence that there is a bright future ahead for the Division Dragons cheerleading program,” Lynch said.

On Feb. 20, the cheer team continued its success and placed second at the Nassau County Championship.