Clark Council Celebrates Pop Warner Cheerleaders Historic Trip to Disney

“You made history,” Mayor Sal Bonaccorso said to the 27 Clark Pop Warner Midget Large Novice team. “No matter who goes to Disney after you, you all were the first.”

The team and their coaches gathered at council chambers on Tuesday night for a special awards ceremony to acknowledge their historic achievement:

The team traveled to Disney this December and brought home the 4th place trophy, beating the 2010 National Champions they had taken second place to at Eastern Regionals, and placing behind teams from Massachusetts, Florida and Connecticut. The score spread between second, third and fourth place was less than one point, an extremely tight margin. 

“As we always say, behind the boys on the field is the real heart of the team and that’s the cheerleaders,” Bonaccorso said, before noting the many hours and dedication involved in participating on the team.

Mayor Bonaccorso gave out achievement award certificates to all the girls, plus to Head Coach Kim Shriner, Junior Coach Amanda Ciccone, Junior Coach Allison Dugan, Assistant Coach Melissa Sapia, and Team Mom Nancy O’Connor.

Before the ceremony ended, the mayor had a request. “What about a cheer?” Bonaccorso asked. “You think I’m letting you go without a cheer?”

The team happily complied with an apropos chant:

Clark Crusaders
The team to fear.
Blue, silver, white
Number one this year.
Crusaders, you know it
We shine above the rest.
Stand up and shout it
Crusaders are the best!

Check out the ceremony and cheer in the video in our gallery, above right.