Mendham Cheerleaders Make History At National Competition

MENDHAM, N.J. – When you work this hard, you’ve earned the right to make history.

For the Mendham High School Competition Cheerleading team, the 2015-16 season has been one for the books.

On Feb. 7 and 8, the team competed at the Universal Cheerleading Association National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida. The team competed in two divisions: Small Varsity Division 1, and Medium Varsity Game Day.

For the first time in 12 years, Mendham qualified as national finalists in both divisions and placed 13th in Small Varsity and second in Medium Varsity Game Day – a historic mark for the Mendham team.

The second place finish was by less than a hair, or 0.3 points.

Lead by coach Amanda Porter and assistant coach Sonja Gutwerk, the team featured captains Kimberlee Gallagher and Catie Calabrese with teammates Hope Appleby, Elizabeth Fitzsimmons, Arianna Hastings, Courtney Cooper, Libby Cohen, Emily Winters, Melanie Noll, Dani Greene, Louise McLaughlin, Sara Fitzsimmons, and Courtney Cooper.

The team competed two to three days per week from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and have done so since August 2015.

Photos Courtesy Amanda Porter