Webutuck leads cheer at packed match

WEBUTUCK — Despite the small number of schools in attendance (two in competition, one performing exhibitions only), the Webutuck High School gymnasium was at full capacity for Feb. 19’s second annual Kim Kelly Memorial Cheerleading Competition.Multiple teams from Dover and Millbrook attended the event. Per cheerleading competition etiquette, Webutuck did not participate competitively, but instead its two teams performed exhibition routines. Dover took home top honors.The event is less a serious competition and has a laid-back atmosphere, Webutuck varsity coach and organizer Michelle Adrian said, but it was still “a huge plus for Dover to come, being a Section 1 school, as well as Millbrook, who we have a long-standing relationship with.”Helping out with the event was Master of Ceremonies Gary Murphy, sound man Jim Devine, and four judges: Michelle Kreilling Bonevenia, Pat Ivain, Millbrook varsity coach Shelly Hollingsworth and Dover varsity coach Michele DeGrosso. Outside the gymnasium, the Webutuck Booster Club sold food and snacks throughout the day.The event raised funds for the Booster Club, the cheerleading team, a year-end scholarship for a graduating senior and the American Heart Association.Moving forward, Adrian said she hopes that with raised funds and help from the district, several more mats can be purchased to hold future events.“Usually when you go to a competition, they have seven or nine mats running the length of the gym,” she said. “We have two.“Hopefully this gives our team, the parents and the community a chance to see what else is out there,” Adrian added. “I think this helps raise awareness of what cheerleaders do, and I think the team was happy with how the day turned out.”Adrian is already trying to formulate next year’s tournament and said she will be working hard to get more Class D-sized schools to participate in an effort to make the event more evenly matched. “We’re trying to set the date already for the last Saturday in February, keeping with American Heart Month, and hopefully getting more schools to confirm early on.”Webutuck has two teams, varsity and junior varsity, coached by Rebecca Knapp. There are a total of 27 Webutuck cheerleaders.