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Cheer Brother Cheer! Celebrating VUHS Cheerleading Program Success And Longevity

photo provided Back row: Coach: Deb Hall, C. Burbo, M. Stearns, M. Sorrell, R. Sorrell, M. Stark Asst Coach: Dani Hausler Row 1: A. Quesnel, A. Martin, A. Gendreau, K. Russett, B. Ouellette Row 2: K. Howard, C. Holler, J. Laughlin, G. Mutini, J. Cunningham Front row: K. Viau, S. Sheehan

Tuesday February 23, 2010

By Cookie Steponaitis

    When Deb Hall started coaching VUHS cheerleading as a JV cheer coach in 2001, the Commodore program was already an established presence in the state, but it lacked a solid feeder program. Coach Hall was quick to expand the offerings to area youth to include summer cheerleading camps, summer tumbling camps and helped spark youth programs in local elementary schools. In the meantime, she began taking her cheerleaders to camps across the state and New England to train with some of America’s finest collegiate athletes. “My first goals for the program were to bring respect to the sport by holding the cheerleaders to higher standard of respect for themselves and their school,” shared Coach Hall. “Respect is earned by showing respect. My second goal was to unite them as a team and bring more updated material to the program and require more strenuous physical fitness requirements. While at the same time making sure they understood that their grades were more important than the sport.”

     During her tenure at the head of the VUHS program, Hall believes that the crowd has not only become more interactive with the cheerleaders, but knowledgeable as well. In addition to recognizing it as a sport, the training, safety and certifications held both the cheerleaders and coaches has shown the people in the local area that cheerleading is about more than performance. It stresses growth, stamina, strength and pushing each individual athlete to new levels. “While stunts have become more difficult, I also think safety and certification have become more important. People in our area are more educated about what it requires to coach this sport,” remarked Coach Hall.

     In addition to support from parents, other students and the community, Coach Hall was quick to explain the dedication and support she receives from the leadership at VUHS. “I feel that I am backed 100% by our AD Peter Maneen and by our Administration. I believe that as we have raised the bar in our sport that our Booster Club has seen the value of making sure we have safe mats and that parents understand that many of the lesson their child learns in our sport will be valuable to them in life. I try to keep my parents informed of the rules, the expectations and of the events and commitment their child is about to make when they become a VUHS Cheerleader. I also make the same commitment to the team that I ask them to make.”

     Saturday, February 13th once again found the VUHS cheerleading squad at the NVAC competition, but this time with a twist. Due to changes in the rules, the divisions for cheerleading competitions are not based on the Division play of the sports team, but the size of the cheerleading squad. With Vergennes fielding a Varsity team of 17, it placed them in the large Varsity division for the first time and outside of its normal Division Two placement, where the team has earned four consecutive state titles. The mark of any athlete or team is how they respond to new challenges and new levels of competition and VUHS Varsity did not disappoint. They came home with the NVAC Title and defeated teams that they have admired for years and never faced in competition. In addition to a powerful first place finish for the Varsity squad, the middle school team took a second place finish and the elementary mini squads also placed in the top rankings.

    As I look at our current program I am most proud of the fact that our kids come from all walks of life and social backgrounds,” lauded Coach Hall. “But when they walk through those gym doors they are one family. I am proud of the fact that they do their best regardless of the trophy and that they care about their families, their school and their education. I am proud of the fact that the kids on my squad know they have my heart and that if they follow the rules and keep their commitments that I will do whatever I can to assist them in their dreams. It's not the trophy that makes you a winner. It's giving your best every day even when no one is looking.”

    With a firm hand on the program and an eye for the future, Coach Hall is excited about the upcoming state championships which will be hosted at Vergennes Union High School on Saturday, February 20th with the doors opening up for the spectators at 2:00. She speaks strongly and with pride about the girls under her tutelage and that cheerleading, like any sport, teaches lessons that are basic to success in life. Being on time, showing respect and that your word is your bond are only a few of the lessons learned. Also that good nutrition and exercise are choices made that can carry far beyond the walls of high school. “ There are several reasons I continue to coach cheerleading. I love Vergennes and we have a wonderful school. I have never coached a single year that I didn't have one or more students come back to me later on and tell me that something I said or did kept them going through high school. Right now I have 17 girls on my squad that are one of my first thoughts when I wake up in the morning. This past weekend we won two trophy's but what meant the most to me was the letter I got on Facebook the next day from one of the girls telling me that "I am the glue that makes us a team and the reason that many of them have not dropped out of school". That letter meant more to me than anything. My assistant Dani Hausler was a sophomore at VUHS, when I began coaching and has been by my side ever since. Every year girls come back and help me make our Youth Program better and bigger. I love the sport but I love the kids.

     They truly understand what it means to be a "team" and not just 17 cheerleaders on the floor.”
Whether on the state level competition mat or at any home game, one fact shines through. The VUHS fans, school and community have something to cheer about! The Valley Voice salutes Coach Hall, her cheerleaders and all who work hard to help individuals achieve their potential through sports. It truly is a labor of love!

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