Nardin's Cheer Team is Flying for Another Year

Adeline Williams '26  ~  October 2023

As Nardin Academy’s fall sports season is coming to a close, I had the opportunity to talk to the cheer team about their successful football cheer season. 

Co-captain Aria Persico, a senior, explained that the team’s favorite season to cheer is fall, as they find cheering for football to be very exciting. Aria has been cheering for two years, but has been dancing for fifteen years. She clarified that while her background of dancing was helpful when it came to flexibility, cheer is its own unique experience and took some learning. Her favorite chant of the team’s is when they yell “Go, Crusaders, fight, Crusaders!” Aria also mentioned that though this is her last year being able to cheer with Nardin Academy, she would love to see the team continue to grow and begin doing competitions. Aria’s favorite part of the rewarding sport is the bonds she has made with each of the girls on the team. She explains, “My coach and teammates will always have my back and I have been able to make friendships that will last a lifetime!” 

Aria’s teammate, Fiona Beck, added that the team is a big commitment. While the team practices together twice a week, each of the cheerleaders must also practice at home. Some ways they practice at home is by going over each of the chants the team does, practicing the jumps, and so much more. Fiona, a sophomore, adds that her favorite cheer the team does is known as “spiriting.” In short, this is when the cheerleaders yell “Go Crusaders!” after finishing one of their impressive chants.

Olivia Bousquet, co-captain of the cheer team, went into depth about some of the responsibilities cheer has brought her, and how she has been able to learn and grow from these responsibilities. The sophomore explains that she has not only been able to learn the importance of commitment, but how to adapt as well: the cheerleaders must be able to accept change when it comes during both practices and games. Olivia has also learned how to coach her teammates: whether she is teaching cheer, dance, movement, or stunt, Bousquet always helps to keep the team improving! 

Finally, I had the chance to speak to new cheerleader, Tamia Rainey. Tamia was nervous to join last year, not sure what she would be getting herself into, but she is glad she joined this fall, saying “It was a fantastic experience!” The sophomore has a background of fourteen years of dancing and eight years of gymnastics. She mentions that it greatly helped her when it came to flexibility, understanding chants and dances, and feeling confident in giving input on dances to benefit the team. Tamia also mentions Coach Vanessa, Nardin Academy's cheerleading coach, who has been helpful and kind to all of the girls, nurturing their love for the sport. Rainey adds that her favorite part of the sport is her team: “Everyone is included and it feels like more of a family than a cheer team.” She explains that this close bond comes in handy during practice as all of the girls feel comfortable both giving and receiving constructive criticism.  

To sum it up, Nardin's cheerleading team is a close-knit group of girls who are all extremely passionate about the sport. They love how they are able to support and motivate both the crowds as well as the two teams they cheer for: Canisius High School’s football and basketball teams. The cheerleading team is continuing to grow and learn. All of the girls I had the privilege of speaking with agree that the team has an exciting, bright future ahead of them!

Phot Credits: Aria Persico