By Kim J. Harmon

STRATFORD – Sure, the Newtown High School co-ed cheerleading squad may have been hoping to earn that No. 1 spot at the South-West Conference championships this past weekend at Bunnell High School, but they had no problem at all finishing third behind Pomperaug and Lauralton Hall.

“We were happy with the way things went,” said Whitney Cross, a senior tri-captain. “We knew Pomperaug would be our biggest competition, but then we saw all of the squads and knew all the teams were going to be tough.”

Pomperaug won the SWC cheerleading championship for the second consecutive year but narrowly edged out Lauralton Hall (by just a half-point, apparently) to do it. Newtown – which finished sixth a year ago – finished just a few points shy of Lauralton Hall and just a few points ahead of Bunnell (fourth-place) and Masuk (fifth-place).

Oh, it was close.

Very close.

All the cheerleading teams were judged on things such as jumps, lineups, creativity and levels of difficulty.

The Nighthawks – the No. 1 co-ed team – started creating their two-and-a-half minute routine just after football season and have spent the last eight weeks or so perfecting it in front of the home crowds at home basketball games.

“We were a little disappointed (that we didn’t finish first),” said Courtney MacRae, also a tri-captain, “but we had a lot of confidence and I think we did our routine as best as we could.”

Helena Buonagurio, the third tri-captain, added, “We may have gone in hoping for first, but the competition was tough. I think we gave a good performance. Everything was clean and sharp.”

And, even so, the routine itself remains a work in progress.

“When we got out score sheets back,” said Buonagurio, “we got some feedback and we’re changing things even now (as we get ready for states). I think it’s a really creative routine.”

Buonagurio, MacRae and Cross lead an 18-member squad that also includes seniors Shannon Solheim, Leah Blewett, Kathy Bartok, and Steve Santanella; juniors Eryn Hutchison, Mike Deluca, Callie Santarpia, Jamie Huppenthal, Kristen DeLa-Vega, Kate Whalen and Angela Shannon; sophomores Shelly Solheim, Megan Kelly, Kyle Neidig and Kevin Woessner.

On Sunday, the ‘Hawks will be at the Wildcats All-Star competition at Sacred Heart and on Saturday, March 3, are scheduled to go to Plainville High School for another competition.

All of that hard work and competition is leading up to the CIAC state championships to be held in March at a place (and time) yet to be determined.