Pop Warner Pee-Wee Cheerleaders

To Appear In Magazine

by Christian Villodas

Returning to their hectic three-practices-a-week schedule, the Newtown Pop Warner Pee-Wee Cheerleaders have garnered sizeable media attention both in town, and soon across the country.

The cheerleaders, who won first place in the Candlewood Valley Cheerleading Competition just last year, are now raising more than a few eyebrows, receiving a response from the New York City-based publication, American Cheerleader Junior.

The magazine, published quarterly, focuses on cheerleaders in the middle school age group.

 “All these kids under 12 years old weren’t getting any attention, but they’re great,” said Sheila Noone, managing editor of American Cheerleader Junior. “We wanted to show what it was like to be a middle school cheerleader.”

Ms Noone, along with Associate Editor Jennifer Smith and Photographer Sarah Johnson, spent the day as the Pee-Wee girls cheered the boys’ football team to a victory over Ridgefield on September 22.

“We were looking forward to the football aspect of the game,” Ms Noone said. “We usually cover a lot of cheerleading camps and competitions.”o

The Newtown squad was selected as a result of American Cheerleader Juniors’ review of an article on the Internet regarding the then Junior Pop Warner Pee-Wee Cheerleaders.

“Pop Warner is a great way to prepare them for middle school and high school cheerleading,” said Ms Smith. “They do compete, but it’s more of a learning process.”

As an offshoot of American Cheerleader magazine, American Cheerleader Junior stresses the importance of fun over the competitiveness that accompanies such sports as cheerleading.

“We needed a magazine that covered younger kids,” stated Ms Johnson.

Relatively new, the magazine has already completed two of its first issues, and plans on releasing the third issue, featuring the Newtown Pop Warner Pee Wees, this winter.

“The first issue was kind of crazy, but the second one went a lot smoother,” said Ms Johnson.

The squad is the biggest they have worked with so far, said Ms Noone, boasting a membership of 35 young cheerleaders and one mascot.

“Cheerleaders are so dedicated and enthusiastic that it’s almost like there is something new everyday,” said Ms Noone.

The magazine encourages young cheerleaders to write in and share their experiences with other cheerleaders across the country.

“We get almost a hundred letters every week,” Ms Smith remarked.

Among other things, the magazine takes readers behind the scenes of other cheerleading squads, and offers instructional tips for children struggling with the sport.

“A lot of kids worry when trying out for a school squad,” said Ms Smith. “It’s stressful, so we try to give them some tips to help them.”

As the release date of the winter edition approaches, the Pop Warner Cheerleaders can expect a three- to-four page spread in the magazine, Ms Noone indicated.

“I thought it was really awesome, because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Desiree Rosato, participating Pee-Wee cheerleader.