The Newtown High School Varsity cheer team took first place at the South West Conference championship on January 31 at Newtown High School gymnasium.
The cheer team hit zero, which means having no deductions, winning with a score of 94.80, going against nine other SWC teams, with the exception of Bethel, New Milford and Pomperaug who did not compete.
Brookfield came in second with a score of 87.30, Joel Barlow came in third with 85, Masuk in fourth with 78 and Stratford in fifth with a score of 69.85.
This is the second year SWC championship for this cheer team. The team won in 2024 and again in 2025.
“It was so exciting to win the SWC Championship. The team exceeded our expectations with their performance. It was a near flawless performance, a "hit zero" is what we call it in the cheer world,” NHS Varsity Cheer Coach Susan Bridges said.
The cheer team consists of sixteen cheerleaders with eleven competing on the mat. Seven of the cheerleaders competing are freshmen.
“We have very talented kids on the team, it is a very young team. We have 11 on the competition team, and 7 are freshmen. That is a big stage for these kids, and they stepped up.
Winning a championship is the ultimate reward for dedication, hard work, and teamwork. It represents the culmination of countless hours of effort, sacrifice, and perseverance.
We are incredibly proud,” Bridges said.
Along with winning the SWC championship Newtown High School had three first team All SWC winners Ella Macey, Isabella Walder and Mel Lordeiro, while Abi Gonzalez and Reese Roland made the second team All SWC.
“I'd say it was a really great feeling and I'm just really happy to go out with this win with such a great team. I'm really happy overall that we worked hard and got what I believe that we all deserved,” NHS senior captain Ella Macey said.
In the end, the championships are great achievements, but the NHS cheer student athletes cite the relationships they have made as being the most valuable part of their experience. NHS juniors Melaney Lordeiro and Isabella Walder explained the value of the team’s close knit bond.
“It's really fun to compete with the people you spend so much time with and build such strong connections with. I also think that putting so much hard work in the gym and getting the results you hoped for is such an exhilarating feeling that everyone should get to experience,” Lordeiro said.
“ I value the friendships that I made, it felt better winning for the seniors on my team than winning for myself,” Walder said.
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