Buddies have national crown to cheer about Persistence pays off for six girls on special Pop Warner squad BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent Known as dedicated and hardworking, there is now another adjective to describe the St. Bart's Buddy Cheerleaders - triumphant. The St. Bart's Buddy Cheerleaders (from left) Mia Frank, Skyler Van Orden, Nadin Girgis, Abby Cregge (back), Diana Weiner and Jessica Moore show their award after the national competition in Orlando, Fla. Here was the team, three years since being formed in East Brunswick, performing at a national competition in Orlando, Fla., and receiving a standing ovation from more than 10,000 people. The six girls, ranging from 11 to 15 years old, had beaten the odds and captured the National Challenger Division championship at the National Pop Warner Cheerleader Competition in Walt Disney World Dec. 4. The honor was the result of tremendous perseverance by the girls, along with the support of their families, volunteers and the Pop Warner community as a whole. "The Pop Warner Challenger Division is an extension of the organization's philosophy that there is a place in sports for every child regardless of their ability or skills," said Mary McArdle of East Brunswick, former cheer coordinator of the St. Bart's Pop Warner League. "Children who participate in challenger teams, football or cheerleading, can have any kind of disability - learning, physical, cognitive, developmental or behavioral." Members of the St. Bart's Buddies cheerleading team perform in Disney World Dec. 4. McArdle was instrumental in starting the Buddy program. During a football game, she had noticed the disabled sister of a Pop Warner cheerleader sitting in the stands with her parents. "I thought, 'Why don't we see if we can get her involved,'" she recalled. "So I talked to her family about it, we gave her a uniform and she became the mascot for the cheerleading team." Eventually, other parents became interested in having their children cheer. Cheerleading is a tough, demanding sport, and just like the other teams, the Buddies have to be in good physical shape. They meet three times a week and practice for 60 to 90 minutes. They run, do stretches and exercises, and work on their routines. Their cheers may be modified to accommodate their abilities, and each child has her own coach. "I feel blessed by the coaches who work with the girls," said head coach Dennis Van Orden, of Helmetta, whose daughter Skyler, 13, is on the team. "Two [coaches] are special ed teachers and one is a student assistant getting her degree in that field. They are all volunteers." Van Orden's wife, Lisa, is a coach, and his older daughter, Alexandra, 15, also helps out. McArdle's daughter, Fiona, who is a senior at Bishop George Ahr High School, Edison, and Nicole Ward, a senior at East Brunswick High School, are student demonstrators, helping with practice and offering encouragement when the girls are on the field. Both girls' schools gave them permission to take a day off and support the team at the national competition in Florida. When the team first started, it would do a little cheer from the sidelines during home football games. This season, with much practice and support, this evolved to a two-and-ahalf minute routine of cheers, dance and a stunt, at home and away games. The Buddies, as part of the Jersey Shore Conference, are frequently asked to perform at various events. "Everywhere they go, they are well received," Van Orden said, noting that the girls received a standing ovation after their performance during a competition at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton. Cheerleading has done more than just improve the girls' athletic skills. "When they first started, they used to be so shy and quiet, especially around the other cheerleaders. They felt different. Now, they have confidence. They are outgoing. They can even be loud and obnoxious just like the other kids their age," Van Orden said with a smile. McArdle noted how the team has even had an effect on others. "The girls practice toe to toe with their nondisabled peers, and they learn a lot from them, but I also think the nondisabled girls are learning a lot about tolerance and difference, and it's making them better girls," she said. Rene Cregge, of East Brunswick, noted that her daughter, Abigail, 15, has become more confident. "They get up and perform in front of thousands of people. I don't know if I could do that," she said. "My daughter just started this year, but she is having a great time," said Kathy Moore, of Milltown, about her daughter, Jessica, 14. "She loves being with the other girls." The cheerleaders are not the only ones having fun. "It's been great for the families too," said Audrey Weiner, of East Brunswick, whose daughter Diana, 12, is on the team. "When [the families] met, we just felt this connection. We understand when a child acts out or when another parent feels really frustrated, and we really support each other." Cregge said the experience has been wonderful for parents like herself. "Parents of typical kids may dream about their child becoming a cheerleader and doing all the things that involves. When you have a child with a handicap, you never think you can dream about that. But now I am the mother of a cheerleader and I'm doing all those things," she said. The Buddies would like more teammates. There is also room for Pee Wee and Midget teams. Parents who are interested or would like more information should call Deena Doherty at (732) 857-6767.