Under The Radar And Over The Top
Monticello’s Second Annual Cheerleading Competition Features Outstanding Athletic Performances of Skill, Grace And Strength From The SPORT That Is Under-Appreciated; Cornwall Wins Small Varsity and Minisink Valley Takes Junior Varsity In Electrifying Five-School Early Season Display
Junior Varsity: Minisink Valley 230.5; Cornwall 217
Small Varsity: Cornwall 251; Newburgh 249.5; Washingtonville 231; Fallsburg 215
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Scenes from the Second Annual Monticello Cheerleading Competition (clockwise) Tumbling expertise evinced by a Cornwall cheerleader, Great jump skills by Newburgh cheerleaders, Cornwall's pyramid was part of its winning small schools routine. Fallsburg's Mekayla Pernesvi earns props as Comets win the longest held extension competition. A Newburgh cheerleader flies in a great aerial flyaway. Fallsburg cheerleaders are awesome even in the early part of the season. A Minisink Valley junior varsity cheerleader rises above the outstretched arms of her teammates who tossed her and will soon deftly catch her. Washingtonville cheerleaders show their jumping synchronicity.
MONTICELLO, NY—I’ve been involved with athletics all my life as a fan, a marathon runner, a long distance swimmer and an award-winning sportswriter. I was even selected as Sports Writer of the Year by the New York Press Association in 2008 so I believe my perspective on athletics carries some weight.
So let me say this clearly and without reservation: Cheerleading is a SPORT. And not just any sport. It’s rigorous, demanding and requires a mind-altering array of skills, timing, strength and determination.
We’re not talking here about pom-pom waving girls who just smile and cheer at basketball games.We’re talking about teams that often include members of both genders rendering untold hours of preparation for complex routines, dances, stunts, lifts, flying and catching of airborne athletes, all done with unfathomable precision and synchronicity.
Wave of the future: Minisink Valley's Junior Varsity wins out over Cornwall's J.V and completes its routine with this nifty pyramid.
Frankly, I defy many naysayers who have probably never been to a cheerleading competition to witness some of the stunning athleticism on display at Monticello’s Second Annual Cheerleading Competition held on January 7 to maintain their insipid insistence that cheerleading is not a sport.
Cheerleading’s thrust to be included in the canon of high school sports in an ongoing battle, not made easier by the lack of media attention once again exemplified at this year’s Monticello event. Yes, I was the only professional media person on hand. But hey, as far as the regional newspapers are concerned, it’s their loss. Unfortunately they do a great disservice to these fine athletes by passing up events such as this.
A year ago when Monticello Coach Kelly Keesler staged Monticello’s first cheerleading competition, the number of schools on hand (nine) was significantly greater than this year (five). Keesler who is expecting a baby turned over the coaching reins to her talented assistant Jesus Rodriguez, but she was on hand this year to help organize the dazzling event which drew a large crowd of spectators from the participating schools as well as cheerleaders from local schools who weren’t competing this time out.
This year’s field featured junior varsity squads from Minisink Valley coached by Deanna Archiere and Cornwall coached by Kelly Channell and small varsity squads from Cornwall coached by Betty Channell, Washingtonville coached by Jane Nienstadt, Newburgh coached by Rosana Diaz and Fallsburg coached by Kiffanie Rodgers and Hope Mickelson. Each team had an opportunity to warm up and practice its routine on the mat before the competition got underway.
Fallsburg represents Sullivan County and shows its mettle with its great jumping skills. The Lady Comets finished fourth in the small varsity competition.
It’s early in the season and that kept Sullivan West and Liberty from entering this year, though cheerleaders from both schools were on hand to watch and learn. Monticello, which graduated 15 of its 22 cheerleaders who had spent their entire tenure under Keesler’s dynamic leadership, played host but did not compete. They are still building their routine for the OCIAA Cheerleading Championships which will be held at Kingston High School on February 18.
Washingtonville is the reigning OCIAA Small School Division I Champion. Pine Bush will defend the large school Division I crown, while John S. Burke Catholic hopes to retain its small school Division II title. Last year’s championships were held at Sullivan County Community College and were attended by a packed house of rabid fans. It was a big boost to the sport.
At this year’s Monticello showdown, Minisink Valley’s junior varsity edged Cornwall’s JV squad 230.5 to 217. Talent abounded on both squads with great lifts, smooth routines and vibrant spirit.
Great music and narration was provided by Sounds Wizards Entertainment D.J. Kenny Vandermark throughout the morning. Each team brought its own music tracks to perform to but in between, the rhythmic pulse from Vandermark’s awesome bevy of songs had the fans dancing in the aisles and the host Monticello cheerleaders showing their moves.
Aerial finesse: Newburgh took second place but in terms of its airborne flying, it was tops by far.
In fact many of the cheerleaders from all of the participating schools and a few of their coaches including Fallsburg’s Kiffanie Rodgers were out on the mat busting moves during the open dancing segment that took place prior to the awards announcements.
Cornwall was this year’s victor in the small schools varsity division with 251 points as they edged out high-flying Newburgh whose aerial acrobatics were stunning to say the least. The Goldback Nation garnered an impressive 249.5 points. Washingtonville, which had a few glitches that hurt an otherwise stellar outing was third with 231 and Sullivan County’s lone participant, Fallsburg was fourth with 215.
The Lady Comets were very impressive though given the early date of this outing. Spirited, agile and captivating in their black and gold uniforms, they drew cheers from their adoring fans. Those cheers grew louder when diminutive Mekayla Pernesvi won the longest held extension competition outlasting teammate Keri Seastrand as Fallsburg endured longer than the other competing teams.
Washingtonville squads dueled each other for the longest held lift while the Wizards also captured the highest toss competition.
Monticello coach Jesus Rodriguez thanked Keesler for her immeasurable impact on Monticello cheerleading and her selfless devotion over the years. The team presented her with a teddy bear and they posed for a photo at the conclusion of the morning’s events.
Closing glimpse: Monticello cheerleaders honor former coach Kelly Keesler who is expecting a baby. Champion Cornwall's small varsity, Fallsburg finished fourth, Minisink Valley junior varsity winners,dancers galore, Washingtonville finished third.
Just a few pointers here on how the teams are judged: Categories include the skills of Motion and Footwork that are assessed for their variety, placement, sharpness, synchronicity and team cheer value. Stunts are viewed for their variety and technique, control, synchronicity. Pyramids and/or Basket Tosses are adjudged for their control, flexibility and synchronicity. Jumps must have height, control, landings with feet together and pointed toes. Tumbling must be done with control, good height, landing with feet together and synchronicity.
In addition Cheerleaders are assessed for Voice and Showmanship (loudness, pitch, enunciation and pep), Crowd Leading and Appeal (great energy and facial expression, confidence, fun and exuberance).
Finally points are amassed for Transitions, Formations and Spacing and Overall Presentation of Routine.
Given the complex judging criteria, one can easily affirm the difficulty of mastering so many skills and the rigorous training that goes into doing so. Cheerleading is indeed a sport and a demanding one at that.
I Can’t wait for the OCIAA Championships this year. Check out the array of photos from the Second Annual Monticello Cheerleading Competition at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
“A”drenaline Rush
Cornwall Defeats Monticello To Return To Class A Finals Looking To Topple Defending Champ Wallkill; Monticello Survives Early Turnover Woes To Avoid First Quarter Blowout Yielding Just 16 Points In Dragons’ First Five Possessions
Section Nine Class A Semifinals
Cornwall 36, Monticello 14
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes from the Class A semifinal wherein Cornwall downed gritty Monticello 36-14 (Clockwise). Offensive MVP, Cornwall senior Peter Catal gains great yardage on his first touch of the ball. Catal carried the ball 17 times for 150 yards and scored the first three TD's for the Dragons. Monticello's Anthony Gray makes an unbelievable catch as he intercepts a pass intended for Cornwall's Alex Cruz. Gray later scored on a 73-yard TD pass from Shane Jackson. Cornwall sophomore quarterback Mike White lays the ball down in the end zone after scoring the Dragons' final TD of the night. Monticello''s Shane Jackson takes off for a first-down scamper. Playing on an ankle still sore for an injury two weeks prior, Jackson gritted it out and gave it his all, as did his teammates in the Monties' best showing in four tries against immensely talented Cornwall.
MIDDLETOWN, NY—College players who move on to play professional football will say time and time again how the speed of the game in the NFL is so much quicker than they’ve ever experienced before..
Watching elite Cornwall, abetted by Monticello turnovers that contributed to the Dragons getting the ball in the red zone for its first five possessions, required an adjustment to a level of play this writer hasn’t seen this year. As fast as my lens is, I had to quickly get used to the pace of the action to keep up with it all.
Tough as nails: Monticello's Mike Rogers has lost his helmet but not his grit as he tries albeit unsuccessfully to keep Cornwall's Offensive MVP Peter Catal from scoring his second TD of the night, a product of a Monticello turnover.
It’s no knock on the fine teams I cover, it’s just that Cornwall plays on a whole other level.
That Monticello’s defense allowed just two TD’s during that early maelstrom is a credit to the toughness of the Panthers and an indication of just how far they’ve come this season.
As compared to their prior meeting with Cornwall when a bevy of first half turnovers turned into a 35-0 Cornwall margin, Monticello’s early struggle to hold onto the ball afforded the Dragons just 16 points, keeping this game within reach.
By all rights as the teams would enter the locker room at the half with Cornwall holding a 23-0 lead, it it might well have been 37-0 or worse.
Two solid defensive stands by the Monties had resulted in a pair of missed field goals by junior kicker Damon Neil.
Considering Cornwall’s dominance over Monticello in their three prior meetings since last fall that had resulted in the Dragons outscoring the Monties 148-13, this game would prove to be Monticello’s best showing of the four encounters and proof positive of the program’s ongoing improvement and viability.
For the three-seeded Monties to have any hope of upsetting the two-seeded Dragons, they were going to need every conceivable break, flawless efficiency in every facet of the game and a game for the ages from still-ailing quarterback Shane Jackson.
Still partially hobbled by an ankle injury suffered in the Port Jervis game, Jackson not only sat out last week’s win over Goshen, he hardly practiced during the past two weeks. “I think he was about 75%, observed Coach Matt Buddenhagen following the game.
Green lightning: Cornwall's first possession advance is accelerated by Kevin McNally's catch from quarterback Mike White as Monticello's Jacob McLaughlin defends.
Jackson was quite healthy though earlier this year when Cornwall beat Monticello 52-7. So to win this one, the Monties would probably have had to call on the hopefully beneficent football gods and as well as the sword of the legendary St. George to slay this cadre of lethal Dragons.
Cornwall won the toss and elected to receive as the night grew chillier, an ominous foreshadowing of an unseasonal blizzard that would blanket the area the following day.
Cornwall’s cheerleading captains came over to greet the Montie cheer squad in an amicable pre-game showing of class and sportsmanship. During the game, after each Cornwall touchdown, the Lady Dragons would get down and do seven pushups to commemorate each seven point acquisition.
Cornwall’s Aidan Carroll pounced on Angelo Niforatos’ kickoff at the Dragons’ 30 and the game was underway. On the first play from scrimmage Cornwall’s Offensive MVP Peter Catal carried it for a first down. Another first down by Rashard Wroten and a completed pass to Kevin McNally had the ball advancing at light speed to the 16.
At 10:54, Catal carried it from there to cap off the one minute, six seconds seventy yard drive. The PAT was good and the Dragons led 7-0.
Anthony Gray returned the kickoff to the 29 yard line. Jackson began the game as slot receiver with Mike Rogers at quarterback. Rogers had an epic game against Goshen last week. An offsides penalty showed the Montie jitters. Jackson took the handoff looking to pass it on the option play and was thrown for a loss by the charging Dragons.
Jackson took over the reins and the ball was fumbled on the next play, recovered by Cornwall’s Joe O’Rourke at the Monticello 11. Cornwall picked up seven on the first carry. Wroten was racked up twice, the second tackle coming by Otha Smith as the Monties held Cornwall out.
Neill’s field goal was no good and the Monties had dodged their first bullet. That said, there were more rounds to come.
Gone in the night: Monticello senior Talon Watson gallops 85 yards after intercepting a pass from Cornwall's Mike White for the Monties' first score of the game with 2:27 remaining in the third quarter.
The Monties took over on the 20. Jackson hit Reuss for completion but the play was nullified by an offsides penalty. On the next play, it was fumbled again at the Monticello 11. Catal needed just one play to make the Monties pay for their second turnover to make it 13-0 at 6:46.The PAT failed and the Dragons got set to kick it off again.
Gray returned it but things went from bad to worse as O’Rourke intercepted a Jackson pass that was tipped affording the Dragons had a first and ten at the Panthers’ 26. O’Rourke was thrown for a loss and sophomore QB Mike White’s two passes to Alex Cruz fell incomplete. Neill’s field goal attempt fell short at 5:13. Make that two Dragon rounds fired which turned out to be blanks.
The Monties had their first positive yardage as José Cruz gained four on the first play of the ensuing series. Cruz took it again. Jackson was sacked leading to a short punt by Reuss that gave the Dragons the ball at the Montie’s 39
Catal took it seven yards before White uncorked a 31-yard TD pass to McNally to the four-yard line. Wroten was tossed for a loss. Catal took it to the two but the Dragons were assessed five yards on a motion penalty. McNally dropped White’s third down pass and Neill came on to make the field goal to widen the lead to 16-0 with 58 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Give me seven: Cornwall cheerleaders accentuate a Dragons TD and PAT with seven push ups.
A nice return by Gray brought the ball out to the 27. Jackson completed a short pass to Conor Briggs as the first quarter ended with the Monties facing a third and six from their own 31.
Settling in, the Monties began to move the chains, first with a run by Cruz and then with a breakaway run by Jackson to the Cornwall 25 yard line. They then advanced it to the 16. Two plays later the Monties appeared to cough it up again but officials ruled it not to be the case. A Cornwall encroachment penalty led to a fourth and two at the eight-yard line.
An incomplete pass intended for Gray gave the Dragons the ball back and despite their heroic drive, the Monties had no points to show for their efforts.
With 9:15 remaining in the second quarter it was Cornwall in possession again. Catal ferreted it 34 yards out to the 42 as once again Cornwall looked like a green blur on the attack. White completed a second down pass to Casey Kerdesky as Cruz drilled him to stop his progress leading to a third and eight.
White went back to Kerdesky for a first down conversion at the Panthers’ 44. Cornwall fumbled but recovered it as they lost yardage. White hit Cruz as Gray brought him down leading to a third and nine. White moved the chains again with a completion to Chris Bauer as the ball was now at the Panthers’33.
Though this was not Anthony Gray's epic 73-yard TD catch, but rather a great grab that turned out to be just our of bounds, the leaping senior who I have affectionately nicknamed "Gray Skies," for airborne antics like this will be sorely missed next year. Cornwall Coach Marcus Hughes referred to Gray, Sean Reuss and Shane Jackson as "phenomenal" players. Gray will now take his aerial act to the hardwood and Cornwall hasn't seen the last of him yet.
White went for the home run as he looked to hit Cruz but Gray went airborne for the pick as he came down on his tailbone but still holding onto the ball. It was an amazing play by “Gray Skies” and not the first he would register in the last football game of his high school career.
Gray appeared to be hurt badly but soon got up and left on his own power. He’d be back on the very next play. That kid is tough.
That takeaway kept the Monties close. Consider the alternative reality: the Dragons had failed to score on three viable possessions up to this point.
The Monties took over on their own two at 5:55. Cruz barreled ahead out to the 18 but the series ended with a three and out from there. Reuss punted and Cornwall got it going again from their own 41 with 3:29 to go in the first half.
Reuss ripped Wroten down for a loss. White took it on a keeper to the Monties’ 27 with 1:58 to go. After an offsides penalty he hit Bauer for a completion. White dodged a sack by throwing it away. A completion to Wroten gave the Dragons a first at the 16 before he uncorked a TD pass from there to O’Rourke with 22.8 seconds remaining in the half for the 22-0 lead. Neill’s PAT was good and the Dragons took a 23-0 lead.
The Monties went to the hurry up offense but time ran out and the teams retired to the locker room with the Dragons nursing their 23-0 lead.
The Monties received to start the second half. A completed pass for 15 yards gave the Monties a first down and another to Briggs had the ball moving out to the 39 but the Dragons held firm and the Panthers had to punt.
Most Valuable Players: Cornwall's Peter Catal (top) had 17 carries for 150 yards and a trio of TD's. Joe O'Rourke was the Defensive MVP with five tackles, half a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Cornwall began at its own 36. Jackson just missed an interception on a tipped ball. Wroten nearly broke loose but was held to seven. Monticello was called for back-to-back unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that led to a 28-yard TD pass to Cruz at 7:09 as the lapse of self-control proved to be costly for Monticello. Cornwall now led 29-0. Neill’s PAT failed.
Steve Demestrio returned the kickoff to the 24 but the Monties went three and out on the series.
O’Rourke returned it and White went back to the air with passes to Kerdesky and Cruz as the ball advanced rapidly to the Monties’ 16. Just when it was looking like Cornwall would score again, White tossed his second pick of the game, this one grabbed by Talon Watson who returned it 85 yards for the Montie’s first score as the gorgeous Faller Field jumbotron read Cornwall 30, Monticello 8 with 2:27 remaining in the third quarter after Jackson had run in the two-point conversion.
The Monties tried an onsides kick but Cornwall’s Anthony Vega recovered it. Wroten twisted and turned his way forward for first at the Cornwall 47 but on the next series the agile senior was dragged down on a third down play leading to a Cornwall punt.
The Monties got it at the 18 as the quarter wound down with the Monties facing a third and six at their own 22.
The final stanza began with Jackson running for a first down. Cruz carried it out to the 49 and then took it three straight times leading to a fourth and four at the 43 with 9:56 to go. A pass to Reuss was overthrown and the Dragons were at it again. Catal got it going again with repeated carries. O’Rourke brought it to the ten. Catal carried it twice bringing it to the two. White ran it in from there at 5:26 and Neill’s PAT made it 36-8.
The squib kick was recovered by Mike Rogers. Jackson wasted no time in rearing back and throwing a 73-yard TD pass to Gray on the far side of the field at 5:11 to make it 36-14. Jackson was pulled down on the two-point conversion attempt.
Gray appeared to recover the onsides kick with a nifty catch but officials ruled it as interference with a fair catch and what appeared to be an epic recovery turned into a penalty.
Cornwall Coach Marcus Hughes inserted subs into the mix as sophomore Matt Smith soon took over at quarterback. Little else of note transpired before the final whistle as the Dragons advanced to play Wallkill, the team they lost to by two points in last year’s Class A tltle game. Wallkill beat Cornwall 7-6 on September 23 in the teams’ only encounter this season thus far.
Interesting it is indeed that Monticello nearly toppled Wallkill this season, losing to them late by the score of 28-21 back on September 30.
A great throw by Shane Jackson translates into a 73-yard TD pass to Anthony Gray. The immensely talented Jackson will hopefully be lighting it up again next season.
Cornwall’s Peter Catal was named the Offensive MVP. He carried the ball 17 times for 150 yards and scored Cornwall’s first three TD’s.
With his five tackles, a half a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery, Joe O’Rourke was named the Defensive MVP.
Coach Hughes acknowledged that his team had chances to put this game away early but he had plenty of praise for Monticello.
“It’s a credit to them. They also made mistakes early and they kept fighting. It’s good for the Section. Monticello is playing well and they’re only going to get better. It was a good game,” he noted.
Asked to comment about his team speed and high capacity offense, he noted, “They play well. It’s a brand new offense with a sophomore quarterback. He makes his mistakes but he does a heck of a job. The line blocked well tonight and the running backs and receivers did their job.”
Hughes had lots of praise for Jackson, Gray and Reuss. “Those guys are phenomenal,” he averred.
Asked about the coming rematch with Wallkill. “It’s going to be a good game. They’re tough and theydo a lot of good things. I’m excited for the challenge. I love playing close games. Unfortunately, the last three we lost to them by a total of six points. That’s football,” he concluded.
Cornwall beat Class AA playoff contenders Kingston and Washingtonville this season, but a win over Wallkill for the title would make those victories pale by comparison. Wallkill beat Port Jervis 30-0 to set up the title rematch with the Dragons slated for November 4 at Faller Field at 7:00pm.
Buddenhagen said this about his team. “You could see these guys have gotten a lot better and grown into young men. This started out like the first time we played them with four turnovers in a row. But this time it was only 16-0. Once our defense settled down they played their butts off. We were knocking on the goal line and it could have been 16-8 at halftime,” he reflected.
“We were lucky it wasn’t 35-0 after the first quarter. They had the ball four times inside the 30. I kept telling the kids they were lucky it was only 16-0.
This was another solid season. We lose a lot of seniors, about 15 of them. This was a senior-laden team. It’s only the second year of varsity and we’re playing with the big dogs. We’re right there. Look at Cornwall and Wallkill, these kids are playing since they were five years old. Our kids have only been playing two or three years. The experience factor is crucial. We’ve got to get our kids playing at a young age so they know the in’s and out’s of the game, the basics and stuff.
This group of seniors have been with us for four years. They’ve worked their tails It takes a special person to play football and these guys are going to be great men and they’ll move on to be productive citizens.”
Asked about Jackson’s return, Buddenhagen noted, “He was maybe 75 percent. He’s a gutty kid and a great competitor. He hasn’t practiced much in two weeks and it was a serious ankle injury. Give him credit he took some shots and kept playing.”
Buddenhagen felt his team was a bit overwhelmed on Cornwall’s first series. “We have a lot of checks. We put in a very aggressive defense and I told them we’re bringing the punch to the fight and suddenly on their first drive we’re on our heels.. But when you turn the ball over, that’s adversity,” he noted.
“What do young men do in the face of adversity? You could have folded tents there after four turnovers and our kids battled. They missed a field goal and we held them out how many times. That’s a damn good job,” he noted.
This was the swan song for seniors Earl Allen, Connor Alvarez, Jermel Branch, Connor Briggs, Ian Campbell, José Cruz, Steve Demestrio, Anthony Gray, Adam Kaiser, Garrett Lapolt, Brendan Madsen, Joe Mulvey, Sean Reuss, Brendon Thomas and Talon Watson.
Congratulations to these warriors for their great effort and their historic part in the resurrection of Monticello football.
Monticello stat line:
Passing: Jacskon 4/15/87 with one TD and one interception.
Rushing: Jackson 15/37; Cruz 15/61;
Receiving : Gray 2/66 with a TD. Briggs 1/6; Reuss 1/15.
Defense: Watson one interception for a TD; Gray one interception. Reuss nine tackles, four solo tackles; Jacob McLaughlin nine tackles, three solo; Otha Smith seven tackles, four solo. Mistah Alli had eight tackles.
Monticello ended its season at 5-4, while Cornwall improved to 8-1.
For an album of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
