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Archive for the ‘Cheer’ Category

Alyssa Pigott (Submitted photo)

Alyssa Pigott (Submitted photo)

“I love to dance, and this is the closest thing.”

As she prepares for her junior year at Coupeville High School, Alyssa Pigott is also deep into preparation for her debut as a Wolf cheerleader.

She and her new teammates are conducting spring practices right now, with summer cheer camp still ahead as the countdown continues until the first football game Sept. 2.

Pigott’s love of dance, and the example of her cousin (“She would always show me cheers and I got into it and started liking it”) drew her to the sport.

And, regardless of whether CHS classifies it as a sport (it’s officially viewed as an activity), Pigott has seen first-hand how much blood, sweat and tears go into cheer.

“Cheer can also be a sport,” she said. “Because you work a lot and have to hold girls up using your strength.”

Pigott, who also played basketball when she was younger, has been in choir for nine years and is hopelessly devoted to the movie “Grease.

A fan of hip hop, she likes to spend time with friends and family, hailing her mom, dad and little brother as having had a big impact on her life.

As she gets ready for her first Friday night under the lights on the sideline, Pigott is embracing the chance to let loose a bit.

“What I like about cheer is the spirit, how you can get the crowd pumped and represent your school, and the friends you make if you’re shy.”

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Ashleigh Battaglia

   Ashleigh Battaglia sticks the landing during her 8th grade track season. (Pat Kelley photo)

(John Fisken photo)

   Refusing to let the play die, Battaglia gives maximum effort while trying to chase down a wayward volleyball. (John Fisken photo)

Ashleigh Battaglia is going to be busy.

When she hits the ground running as a Coupeville High School freshman in the fall, she’ll be kicking off a year in which she plans to be involved with sports every season.

Battaglia will be a member of the fall CHS cheer team, hopes to continue with the squad through basketball season, then head outside in the spring to join older brother Chris on the Wolf track and field team.

Toss in school work and she’ll have plenty of things to juggle, something of which she’s well aware.

“My goals as a freshman this year are to be able to get through this year not having to worry about last minute assignments and spending time with my family so I can easily enjoy my hobbies outside of school,” Battaglia said.

While she’ll be busy, the chance to interact with her teammates more than makes up for it.

“I love being on a team,” Battaglia said. It makes me feel like I have another family outside of home with the people I can trust if I ever need anything.”

Eternally positive, she looks for the bright side of things, but knows she can look to her veteran teammates if she hits any low moments.

“Every time I fail, I try to get back up again and keep going,” Battaglia said. “I want to improve.

“I would like to work on my confidence,” she added. “Like in cheer, I have girls who I know will help me if I struggle or need help.”

Battaglia was a three-sport athlete at CMS (volleyball, basketball, track) and looks forward to following in the footsteps of her brother, who went to state in the high jump as a freshman this spring.

“Track, I like it because I get to try new things and I compete mostly with myself to try to improve as much as possible,” she said. “My brother has always had helpful advice on anything track-related.”

Battaglia, who enjoys sketching, singing and hanging out with friends and her little sister (“she’s coming to middle school ready to show off her enthusiasm for sports and anything fun”), draws big support from her entire family.

“My dad, Brian Rogers, has had a huge impact on my athletic experiences, he’s always had encouraging things to say,” she said.

“My mother, Amanda Rogers, has always taught me to stand tall and try my best in everything,” Battaglia added. “So I can always look back and be proud of what I accomplished.”

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Julie Bucio (John Fisken photos)

   Julie Bucio, who will be a sophomore in the fall, is one of 13 returning Wolf cheerleaders. (John Fisken photos)

Mckenzie Meyer

Junior-to-be Mckenzie Meyer holds center stage last winter.

The cheer is strong in these ones.

The first Coupeville High School football game sits 77 days away (Sept. 2 at home against South Whidbey), but a strong pack of Wolf cheerleaders are already at work.

CHS coach Cheridan Eck has 25 girls, including 13 returnees, and a manager, who are showing up for mid-June practices.

Summer cheer camp looms in the future, along with countless stunts, cheers and group displays of Ohana.

While the roster may change between now and the start of school, here’s where it stands through June 17 (stars indicate returning cheerleader):

Ashlie Battaglia
Amber Benway
Julie Bucio
(*)
Kiara Burdge
(*)
Robin Cedillo
(*)
Maggie Crimmins
Lainey Dickson
(*)
Natasha Estes
(*)
Kaley Grigsby
Naika Hallam
(*)
Gaby Halpin
(*)
Abby Hamilton
(*)
Kaela Hollrigel
(*)
Natalie Hollrigel
Ja’Tarya Hoskins
Nanci Mellendrez
Mckenzie Meyer
(*)
Claire Mietus
(*)
Mira Mostafavinassab
Heather Nastali
(*)
Alyssa Pigott
Moira Reed
(*)
Bronwyn Schmidt
Mica Shipley
Kameryn St Onge
Melissa Otto
(Manager)

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starr

Brittany Starr

team

Starr (middle row, third from left) with her Wolf teammates. (John Fisken photo)

Starr and fellow Wolf cheerleaders Julie Bucio (left) and Katherine Morales hang out while waiting at a UW cheer camp.

   Starr and fellow Wolf cheerleaders Julie Bucio (left) and Katherine Morales hang out while waiting at a UW cheer camp.

Brittany Starr loves her job and it shows.

When she became a Coupeville High School cheerleader this past school year, returning to the sport she was a part of back in her younger days, she immediately seized the moment.

Every chance she had, Starr was right there with teammates and friends like Amanda Nietzel, front and center, capable (and very willing) of being loud and proud in support of her school and classmates.

A friendly, outgoing young woman who celebrates a birthday today, she embraced everything about her new team.

“What isn’t there to enjoy about cheer! The energy of all the girls is just great to be around!,” Starr told me in an interview last year. “When we are with each other, as soon as we walk in the door for practice, everything bad gets put behind us.

“It makes it so easy for all of us all to be our selves around each other.”

Whether she’s putting in work with her teammates or involved in her non-sports life, Starr is one of the best and brightest Wolf Nation has to offer the world.

As she hits her cake day, we want to take a moment to wish the CHS senior-to-be big happy birthday wishes.

May your day shine as brightly as you do, Miss Starr.

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Heather Nastali (John Fisken photo)

Heather Nastali, ready to get loud ‘n proud. (John Fisken photos)

softball

Slamming the door shut on defense.

Nastali slides into action.

Nastali slides into action.

The enthusiasm fairly bubbles out of Heather Nastali.

The Coupeville High School sophomore, who celebrates a birthday today, was seemingly born to be a cheerleader.

One of two sports she’s lettered in (Nastali is also a key member of the CHS softball team), cheer gives the soft-spoken young woman a chance to get loud ‘n proud, kick-starting the pro-Wolf crowd.

She’s adapted quickly to the cheer game and become an integral part of the squad.

Over the past year, even the fans in the stands have been able to see her confidence grow with each game, whether it be cheer or softball.

Heather always comes across as a smart, very friendly young woman who is deeply committed to everything she does.

That shows in her interactions with her large, fun-loving family, and in her daily dealings with her teammates.

As she hits a major cake day, the future is wide open for Nastali.

A hard worker and a genuinely sweet person, Heather deserves all the accolades and all of our support.

So, Miss Nastali, I hope your birthday is a great one, and I, along with all the other fans out there, look forward to seeing you continue to awe and amaze us.

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