The Lacey community is invited to a Friends and Family Nationals Send-Off in honor of the co-ed cheerleading team on Saturday at 4 p.m. The event is free.
The co-ed cheerleading team, which placed second at nationals in 2012, will be leaving for the Universal Cheerleaders Association High School Nationals in Florida on Wednesday, Feb. 6, competing on Saturday, Feb. 9.
“This year we are hoping to place first in the nation,” Assistant Coach Alyssa Iapicco said.
At the send-off, the team will perform their routine for nationals.
“It’s important for them to be really fired up before they go down there,” she said. “A lot of people in town won’t see them unless they have a reason to go to a competition. (The team) feels it’s important to show (Lacey) what they do."
This year, the routine incorporates new and more challenging lifts, Iapicco said.
The team practices six days a week for two hours.
“They’re beat by the end of it. It really takes a lot out of them,” she said.
Many of the members also practice individually, she said.
“It takes a lot of fundraising as well as being good enough to go down there,” she said.
The team had to raise approximately $30,000.
The co-ed cheerleading team will compete in semifinals at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9. Finals will be held later that evening.
Lacey’s co-ed cheerleading team has been competing at nationals since 2009. There will be 20 team members on the mat at nationals.
The Squad:
Andrew Papa – Senior Captain
Jaclyn Bocchini - Senior Captain
Brittany Mathieu – Junior
Savannah Gray – Junior
Alexis Stephens- Junior
Carley Adamczyk- Junior
Autumn Higgins- Junior
Tony DeSousa- Junior
Andrew Como- Junior
Briana Zuccarelli- Sophomore
Dylann Emery- Sophomore
Sydney Webb- Sophomore
Shane Januik- Sophomore
Ashley Klaus- Sophomore
Brooke Bacchetta- Sophomore
Erika Lawerence- Freshmen
Erin Kilmurray- Freshmen
Madison Januik- Freshmen
Erin Miklosey- Freshmen
Jonathan DallaValle – Freshmen
Bella Sinopoli- Freshmen
Gianna Walters- Freshmen
Coaches:
Kelly Zuccarelli – Head Coach
Jamie Hans- Assistant Coach
Kevin Hans- Assistant Coach
Alyssa Iapicco- Assistant Coach
