SHU Cheerleaders Win National Trophy, Honored In Hartford

FAIRFIELD, CT — Despite time limitations put in place by the pandemic, the Sacred Heart University cheerleading team still managed to bring home the national trophy for a second year in a row last month.

The Pioneers team was honored Tuesday with a visit to the state Capitol, where they were presented with formal letters of recognition from the Connecticut General Assembly, augmented by high praise from several area leaders.

State Sen. Tony Hwang called their routine “beyond stunning,” noting that while they’re simply an amazing squad under any circumstances, “best of all they represent the state of Connecticut.”

“It was a really nice time and nice recognition,” said Allison Catalano, a graduating senior and one of the team’s three co-captains.

The team took the Open All-Girl Division I Game Day National Championship with the Universal Cheerleading Association, competing in person in Orlando, Florida.

While the pandemic abbreviated the preseason — and what would normally be six months of training — Coach C.J. Serrano said proudly that the team showed up with the serious intent of getting ready to compete within half that time.

“They executed,” she said. “That’s really what it comes down to. They hit a perfect routine.”

“They didn’t crack under pressure and they performed, honestly, the best I‘ve ever seen them,” she said.

When it comes time to hit the floor for a routine, Serrano explained, it’s all about avoiding any deductions for bumps, falls, or examples of touching down.

“In cheerleading a half a point is a huge, huge difference,” she said. “They received zero deductions and that’s ultimately why they won.”

“It’s really kind of an addictive sport,” Catalano said. “Once you’re in, it’s kind of hard to get out of it.”

Serrano understands this, as the coach formerly played on the SHU team until her graduation in 2015.

The team first began competing nationally in 2012, winning a sixth place birth in 2015 at UCA Nationals. Then in 2020 the team took home the Division I All-Girl National Championship.

More than 40 members of the squad took part, including co-captains Nicole Longo and Victoria Jordan.

“It truly feels like a dream to become a national champion (and) we never thought it would happen once, let alone twice, in two consecutive years,” Jordan said.

“Cheerleading is truly such an amazing sport, and different from every other in that we spend our entire season preparing for this one moment at nationals,” she said.

“Our entire season is dependent on this two minutes and 30 seconds, whereas most other sports have many games throughout a season,” she said.

“We’ve been humbled by more obstacles than we ever have before and preparation is really the thing that can set us apart from our competitors,” Catalano said.

“This is why I love the sport so much,” Jordan said, “because we prepare months for this one moment and nothing can match the feeling of hitting a routine at nationals and having that successful season.”

“It’s a lot of work for two minutes and 30 seconds,” Catalano said. “It’s a long season to be prepared for that one moment.”