Throughout the month of February, the LA varsity cheerleading competition team set team records, won trophies and made their fans and coaches proud with superb performances at competitive events held on four consecutive weekends.
The girls began their impressive run by setting a team record score, surpassing their state performances of the past two seasons, at the David Brearley Invitational on Feb. 3. They finished second at the Mustang Mania Invitational and third at the Howell Cheer Championship on the following two weekends before placing fourth in the New Jersey Cheer and Dance Coaches Association (NJCDCA) State Championships at Brookdale Community College on Feb. 24. The Rams continued improving their execution and elevating their team scores throughout the competition season.
“This season, our stunt team was more complex and advanced than in the past and that gave us the potential to score higher. We still had to execute properly and we executed really well at Howell. That was our best performance of the year,” veteran LA head coach Tanda Tucker said.
Coach Tucker credited competition team assistant coach Valentina Margiottiello ’13 as an integral part of putting together the routine with more advanced dance choreography and “special tweaks that add something extra.” She’s also grateful for the work of game team coaches Tatianna Margiottiello and Katie Vetland ’02, who assisted in cleaning up the routines.
The competition team was led by tri-captains Sydney Geissler ’24, Gbemi Olarewaju ’24 and Zara Zaidi ’24 and included Avarae Calloway ’24, Deanna Nicholls ’27, Jini Looney ’25, Julia Machado ’25, Liany Maldonado ’25, Natalie Koegler ’25, Nijiany Genao ’26, Nitya Sahni ’26, Rewa Gandhi ’27, Savanna Lopez ’25, Sydney Thompson ’27, Giselle Rodriguez ’25 and Giannalise Rodriguez ’26.
The girls continued to work hard, persevere through challenges and exhibit resilience during a grueling month of practices and competitions.
“Our routine is extremely fast paced, difficult, and brings the audience energy and excitement,” Sydney Geissler said. “With many injuries, setbacks, and routine changes, our team constantly gives it their all and leaves it on the mat.”
Miss Tucker received a nice surprise at the conclusion of the states when she was awarded a Coach’s Recognition plaque. The congratulatory Instagram post from the state organization read: At the NJCDCA, we express our appreciation for some of NJ’s Finest! We couldn’t do it without you!
“Coach Tucker is both a coach and a mentor,” Gbemi said. “She genuinely gets to know every one of her students and cheerleaders on a personal level. She knows when you’re upset and just what to say to make you feel better. She cares about each of our futures and looks to constantly have all of us working towards a positive future. I am very fortunate to have gotten to know Coach Tucker during my time at LA.”
Coach Tucker believes the camaraderie within the entire LA cheerleading program, including Middle School and Upper School game and competition teams, is a big factor in their success. The big sister-little sister relationship provides new cheerleaders a “cheer family” and helps connect the Upper and Middle School programs.
“This is a really awesome tradition of bridging the two programs. I think of one big team of 45 cheerleaders in the program. That is why we’ve become more successful in competition,” Coach Tucker said. “Our cheerleading program reflects a lot of what our school’s core values are. It’s inclusive, it’s about integrity and it’s about making sure you’re holding each other accountable.”