Eastbayri.com

BARRINGTON — The Barrington Pop Warner Junior Midget cheer squad finished third at the 2011 Pop Warner National Cheer & Dance Championships last week held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney World, Orlando, Fla.

The team also was nominated for the “Spirit of Sport” Award. This was the first time a Barrington squad to has gone to a national competition.

The Junior Midget team consists of Megan Boyle, Talia DeLuca, Nicole DeMopoulos, Madeline Durkin, Alexandria Heiser, Emma Katzen, Olivia Kelley, Lila Medeiros, Taylor Norris, Lauren Richardson, Emily Walczak, and Lindsay Wright. They are coached by Pat Martel and Monica Koehler.

Ms. Martel said that she was very proud of the girls for the job they did at the competition, but more than that she was proud of the way they conducted themselves while in Florida and throughout the competition process.

“At the awards ceremony, first was the Spirit of Sport Nomination. I had told the girls that there were eyes and ears all around Disney voting for the teams that were courteous, pleasant, smiling and showed positive sportsmanship. I was very proud of them for that nomination. Alison Kelley, one of the moms, was more pleased with that award than the third place trophy. That award shows the true character of the participants,” she said.

“As for the competition itself, I was hoping for a top-10 placement. Because of the flow, we were unable to watch any of the teams we were competing against so it was hard to determine where we would place.

“We were one of 17 teams competing from as far away as Hawaii (which is the team that ours made friends with — even exchanging phone numbers with them). I had prepared the girls that there was a very good chance that we would not trophy. When they called our name for third place, it was a moment we will never forget... true elation,” she said.

Ms. Martel said that the sign of a true Pop Warner athlete is to show good sportsmanship and be a good student, but more than that they have to possess good character.

“Before we left, I had explained to the girls that they were not only going out there to cheer; in their category, they were representing Barrington Pop Warner, the Town of Barrington, the State of RI and Rhode Island RISMA. I told them to show everyone what we had worked so hard to achieve. They took it to heart and look what they did,” she said.

The 12-member squad competed on Dec. 7 in the morning, and that evening all the competitors were treated to events within the Disney MGM park. They returned to Barrington on Thursday, Dec. 8.