Valley Independent Sentinel

School Board Honors Derby Cheerleaders

by Jason Bagley | Apr 28, 2010 12:39 pm

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Posted to: Derby, Sports

Derby —

The Board of Education officially honored the Derby High School Cheerleading team last week night for winning the New England Championship.

The cheerleader’s achievement marks the first time Derby High School has captured a New England title.

At the school board meeting April 22, Superintendent Stephen Tracy introduced the squad of 16 — all sporting their recently awarded black championship tees. 

Tracy commended the girls for their first place finish at the Division 4 New England Cheerleading Championships in Providence, R.I. on March 20.

“We don’t say that very often, do we?”  Tracy said.

The Red Raiders had placed first in three other competitions this year, including at the Northeast Blizzard Cheer and Dance Championships.  

After Tracy congratulated the Red Raiders and the applause faded, a choked-up Toni DeGennaro, the squad’s coach, spoke to her crew.

“This is very emotional for me because I love these girls,” DeGennaro said. “It’s an honor to be their coach.”

DeGennaro retired at the end of last year, but rejoined the team two months into the season this year.

 The girls were happy to see her return.

“When Toni came back, we started whipping into shape,” said junior co-captain Nicole Gregory.  “It means so much to the team, coming back from where we were at the beginning to the New England Championship.”

DeGennaro had equally kind words for the cheerleaders.

She spoke about her only graduating senior, co-captain Sam Tabone.  

“Sammy’s my right-hand man, she reminds me of everything I need to be reminded of,” DeGennaro said.  

Tabone battled with a back injury all season.  “She was the right choice for captain because of all her hard work.”

Next on tap for the Red Raiders is a banquet in May where they will be presented with championship rings.

The rings — to cost about $2,300 — will be purchased with money from the school board and the city’s Board of Aldermen, who signed off on the payment last week. The school district and the city are splitting the cost.

“The girls have achieved something that has never been approached in Derby,” Mayor Anthony Staffieri said. 

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