WESTFIELD-Westfield Youth Football’s Cheer Teams are in the final weeks of practicing for their day in the spotlight – the Western Mass. Cheer Exposition – at Westfield High School on Oct. 21.
During Westfield Day at the Big E this week, the three squads – Pee Wee, Junior and Senior – had an opportunity to practice some routines as they marched in front of the football players.
“It was an amazing display of our cheerleaders,” said Michelle Coach, director of cheer.
Coach explained that the city was chosen to host this fall’s exhibition because of the spirit from both the cheerleaders and the families in the stands that was exhibited at last year’s exhibition in West Springfield.
Westfield Cheer members participated in the Westfield Day Big E Parade. (Lynn Bosher photo).
“West Side selected Westfield because of our spirit, energy, and teamwork,” said Coach, noting two awards were presented at the event – the spirit stick and megaphone.
The megaphone is associated with hosting and spirit, while the spirit stick is presented to the energizing and supporting team. Each cheerleader is given a medal for participation.
“I will never forget the sound that occurred when our Westfield cheerleaders entered the gym at West Side before the national anthem,” said Coach, who is a parent of one of the junior cheerleaders, helps coach the junior team, and is the exposition coordinator. “The crowd was loud, but when we entered, it was beyond words. Our children smiled from ear to ear and some were crying at the level of support. Westfield brought the energy, spirit, and love for cheer.”
Melanie McNamara, director of fundraising for Westfield Youth Football, echoed those sentiments.
“The hosting team picked our team as the recipient of the megaphone based on the spirit and sportsmanship of our players and families alike,” said McNamara. “Our stands were packed with families wearing team colors, some with painted faces, who were rooting on not only our team but all of the towns participating, as were the cheerleaders.”
Coach said that all cheer squads – Pee Wee, Junior and Senior – will be participating in the exhibition.
“The cheerleaders have been working on routines since the beginning of August,” said Coach. “It is an exciting event that will instantly have you joining Bomber nation and the Cheer nation.”
Coach added that Westfield High School and Westfield State University cheerleaders will also be performing at the event.
McNamara, a parent of one of the pee wee cheerleaders, said the young athletes have worked hard to prepare for the exhibition.
“The routines are amazing,” said McNamara. “Supporting them will help build their confidence and keep them on the right track. Besides, Westfield Youth Football and Cheer have fans like no other. It is amazing to watch their spirit. We call them #Bombernation and we love them.”
Close to 80 cheerleaders representing the city will perform cheer routines consisting of dancing, stunts, and pyramids set to music.
“Each age group will perform according to their level and the recommended rules by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators,” said Coach.
Cheerleaders representing the city are in grades 2 through 6, while other communities may have cheerleaders beginning in kindergarten.
“We have all variations occurring throughout the Western Massachusetts area, and we welcome any and all team configurations,” said Coach.
For the past year, families have been involved in the planning process for the event and Coach noted that representatives from West Springfield were “amazing” with aiding in the process.
“This is an all hands on deck event,” said Coach, adding her thanks to Kim Starsiak of All-Stars Dance Center in Westfield who conducted a training session for area cheer coaches to gather and discuss the exposition.
“As soon as we won the megaphone, we began meeting as a cheer family,” said Coach.
McNamara concurred.
“The event is entirely volunteer run,” said McNamara. “So many of the parents will be running registration, working vendor areas, concessions and the cafeteria, as well as helping out on the floor or with the squads.”
Additionally, as director of fundraising, McNamara has been working with Youth Cheer to help raise funds to pay for the event.
At the end of the day, Westfield will award the megaphone to the group most deserving to host the event next year and the spirit stick will be awarded to the group that shows the most spirit.
Both women encourage area residents to attend the event and wear red, black and white – the Bomber colors. At press time, the start time has not yet been determined since registrations are still coming in from neighboring cities and towns. Communities set to compete include Easthampton, Ludlow, Agawam, West Springfield, Warren and Chicopee. The admission cost is $5 per person.
“The energy and the feeling in the gymnasium is above and beyond what anyone could imagine,” said Coach. “We would love the public to come.”
