By Penny Timmeny – Staff Reporter 

The Jonathan Law Cheer team is ready to enter its fall season.

With a new season on its way, the Cheer team is starting to prepare for games and events. This season brings the team two new captains, seniors Cara Mikoliczyk and Katherine Wong, and one returning senior captain, Madelynn Nash.

“I’m feeling really excited about the start of this year’s Cheer season,” Nash said. “I think we have an amazing group of athletes, and I’m excited to see how much we can improve and grow as a team over the next few months.”

Head Coach Morgan Colombo says the team has really come together during practices in preparation for their first few games, one of them being their first home game on the Jonathan Law field. 

“The team has really come together during practices and preparation to perfect their routines,” Colombo said.

The Cheer team’s first home game was Friday, September 18, when they performed their first routine.

The team has been working hard to develop their routines and sideline cheers. 

“Our goals for this season are to advance to states and hopefully make the Team of the Year competition this year,” Mikoliczyk said.

The Cheer team has many new freshmen this season, including Siena Macklin, Caroline Marchand, Larissa Freitas, Cara Marquis, Stella da Cruz, Gianna Morant, Kiley Sek, and Madison Grace. 

“Everyone on the team is very supportive and encouraging,” Sek said. “I can’t wait to see what friendships the team brings later on.”

During the winter, the team is in competition season. They must learn a new routine for competition.

“We want to do our best at competitions this year and hopefully make it to regionals but most importantly have fun,” Nash said.

The cheerleaders are already excited and looking forward to what’s coming.

The team hopes to make it to the Connecticut Team of the Year competition showcase this year with their new routines.

“Our goals for this season are to advance to States as well as hopefully make it to the Team of the Year competition this year,”  Mikoliczyk said.

Junior Giada Siano loves the bond the Cheer team has already developed.

“I enjoy cheering at the football games and being a part of the school spirit,” Siano said. “Our team has a strong connection, and I think that is one of the best parts because we support and encourage each other.’

Columbo has goals for both the varsity and JV Cheer teams this year.

“For varsity, our goal is to advance to regionals and continue improving our skills and performance,” Columbo said. “For JV, we want to give our cheerleaders more opportunities to compete, gain experience, and work toward placing in the top three at their competitions. As a full program, one of our biggest goals is to continue bonding and coming together as a team.”

Colombo has been seeing the team’s atmosphere and is looking forward to seeing all the bonds grow stronger. 

“We are already a very close group, and it has been amazing to see how much the team supports and encourages one another,” Colombo said. “We want to continue building on that throughout the season.”