Baldwin competitive cheerleaders on a roll

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, December 8, 2018 | 1:18 AM

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Baldwin’s competitive cheerleaders are defined by their diligence and zeal. Plus, their talent.

The Highlanders have been on a roll this season; they are near-undefeated in their last four competitions over the past few weeks.

“We are so excited with how our season has started and are really looking forward to the big competitions coming up,” said Taryn Madden, Baldwin’s co-coach with Dena Mihalsky. “Our team goals are to hit our routine at the WPIAL championship and qualify for the PIAA tournament in Hershey, which will take place in January. After that we will be competing at the UCA Nationals (in February), where we hope for both our teams to advance on to semifinals or finals from the preliminary rounds.”

Baldwin has qualified once again for the UCA National High School championship in Orlando, Fla., in both the mat and game-day divisions. The Highlanders earned first place in both routines and qualified for nationals at the Miami Valley regional.

“So far, we have had an amazing season,” Mihalsky said. “We have two teams: our large varsity (mat) team, which performs skills at a high level of difficulty and includes a cheer and music portion; and our game-day team, which performs skills that mock a Friday night football game such as chants and band dances.

“Both teams have worked so hard all season. Our mat team is able to perform skills at a more difficult level than ever before, and our game-day team is the best executing team we’ve ever had at Baldwin in my six years of coaching.”

The Baldwin girls secured two more first-place trophies at the South Hills Showdown at Bethel Park High School, and landed the title of “grand champions” for a third consecutive year by compiling the highest routine score.

Baldwin then participated in the Eagle Cup championship at South Park High School, and again earned two first-place trophies.

Most recently, the Highlanders competed Dec. 2 in the UCA Allegheny regional event at Slippery Rock University, where they won the game-day competition and placed second in the mat division.

The Highlanders are led by a trio of captains in senior Paige Ernst and juniors Alaina Wodarek and Paige Young.

“This year’s team is a very open team, which is why we are excelling more than in past years,” Ernst said. “Our performances have been very close to perfect with all the trust and confidence we have for each other.”

Ernst is one of four seniors on this year’s squad, along with Erin Winkowski, Carly Utzig and Hannah Barker.

“I attribute a large portion of our success this season to our upperclassmen,” Mihalsky said, “by setting an example of hard work and dedication for the underclassmen to follow. They are truly their own toughest critics and don’t stop until they are near-perfect.

“We go into every competition with the mindset that our team is our main focus with a goal of being better than we were in the (previous) competition. That will continue to be our team goal as we enter the second half of our season.”

Ernst has been a cheerleader for 10 years and has been lauded as a Fire and Ice all-star. She has a 3.75 GPA, and is senior class president and a National Honor Society member. She is planning to attend Morehead State University for business marketing and to continue her cheering career at the Division I level with hopes to make it to the Olympics as a USA cheerleader.

But for now, her main focus is on the Baldwin competitive cheer program.

“Some of my duties as a captain are to make sure everyone is doing their absolute best,” Ernst said, “meaning just talking to them on a personal level or motivating them while trying to get new tumbling and stunting skills. Also, to make the best positive atmosphere so that we still have the passion we have had since we started cheerleading.”

There are 28 girls on Baldwin’s competitive cheerleading team this season.

The junior class is represented by Wodarek, Young, Emma Zuder, Abby Zuder, Erin Fader, Olivia Rossa, Olivia Lucas, Grace Vavro, Olivia Kniola and Sophia Cavataio.

Half the squad consists of sophomores and freshmen.

Sophomore cheerleaders are Lexi Utzig, Bayleigh Bartic, Grace Hampton, Emma Kuskie and Taylor Mincin. Freshman cheerleaders include Ryan Bigley, Jordan Gremba, Julia Balaschak, Ella Palatucci, Kayla D’Angelo, Elianna Sinkule, Erin Hampton, Avery Pasquale and Lindsay Molinero.

“We have an amazing group of girls this season,” Madden said, “and incredible captains who are leading our team in such a positive way.

“Our focus is to not worry about what place we get, but to hit our routine the best we can and improve our scores each time.”

Baldwin has qualified for the state finals in each of the last four years, placing 16th in 2015 and 11th in 2016, then improving to third and second the past two years. The Highlanders also finished first in the WPIAL large varsity and medium varsity divisions the past two years.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

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