Team Spirit In Tiny Packages

This week's Whiz Kid's are a group of youngsters on the U/7 Falcons Cheering "E" Squad in Danvers.  These little ladies competed for the first time ever in the Ultimate Cheerleading Competition in Ipswich on October 22, and took first in their division.  

As a pilot program, Falcons Youth Cheerleading President and Coach Catherine Wolniewicz fully admits she "didn't know what to expect" out of a group this young. In past years the cheering program has started at the fourth grade level, until last year when Danvers decided to open the program up to the third graders. This year the coaches decided to go even younger.

Danvers participates in the Cape Ann League, which does not allow the youngest group to enter competitions, so Wolniewizc entered her girls in the Ultimate Competition, which is put together by Ipswich and Pentucket.  "This was their first competition, and we just wanted to get them exposed to it and have more experience competing."

"Of course [at the competition] there were no other squads that little, they were the only ones in the U/7 category," said Coach Catherine Wolniewicz, with a laugh. "But if there were, these girls still would have taken it, they were outstanding! We had no expectations for if they would pick it up at this age-but they are like little sponges."

The girls handled themselves like seasoned veterans, going up against teens who doubled them in size.  "They looked so cute up there against all these bigger girls," Wolniewizc described. "They didn't seem to realize how little they were-they did so awesome, they stole the show!"

Whiz Kid’s Name: U/7 Falcons Cheerleading "E" Squad

Whiz Kid’s Age: 6-7 years old

Whiz Kid’s School and Grade: First and second graders

Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment:  The youngest squad to compete in the Ultimate Competition, first place finish.

Whiz Kid’s Key to Success: "They had a lot of courage to go up there against vasity squads, I am so proud of them." ~Coach Catherine Wolniewicz