Mayor Honors Dukes Cheerleaders

Winning the National Cheerleading Championships in Disney World in 2009 and then receiving a proclamation from Hillsborough’s mayor could have been a once-in-a-lifetime event for the Hillsborough Dukes PeeWee Cheerleaders.

But not only did the 18 fifth and sixth grade girls become the top squad in the country in 2010, they also received the same honor from the township Tuesday night.

“Winning once is like a dream,” Head Coach Kristen Mazuera said.  “Winning twice is just crazy.  We knew they were good but wining Nationals twice is crazy.”

“We laughed about it because of the unlikelihood,” she added.  “But the girls wanted it.  They worked really hard.”

The team beat 13 other cheerleading squads from around the country to nab the top spot at the December 2010 competition.

“I feel really honored,” Kayla Shara, one of the cheerleaders, said.  “I think it’s really great that the girls got to win twice.”

“I’m really happy for everyone because we got honored by the mayor,” Olivia Lewis said.

The girls typically practice for two hours, two to three times per week during their season, under the eyes of coaches Jennifer Fedak, Patty Levonaitis, Linda Hudak, and cheer commissioner Maria Szabo.  They then perform the two-and-a-half minute routine at a regional competition, with a first or second place finish earning them a spot at the national competition.

“When we won nationals, it was really exciting because there were a lot of good teams there and we were competing against them,” Brianna Nissel said.  “It sticks with you forever.  It’s just an amazing feeling.”

“I’m really proud of the team since we worked so hard,” Courtney Nissel said.  “We knew if we reached the goal last year, we could reach it again.”

For the coaching staff, next year’s season isn’t as much about awards as about teaching the girls life lessons.

“Our motto is always to have the girls understand what you put into it is what you get out of it,” Mazuera said.  “That’s really what we try to drive into them.”