OLHC cheerleaders eye the future while enjoying one last blast together - SILive.com

March 24, 2019 at 07:17AM

If Our Lady Help of Christians' coaching staff had its way, it would have preferred to see its girls share tears of joy at the College of Staten Island on Saturday morning.

Those are the kind of tears that are often associated with the thrill of victory, of course.

Unfortunately, OLHC didn't win the varsity division during the CYO Archdiocesan Cheerleading competition, which happens to be the season-ending event for the Island's teams.

Yes, some tears might have been associated with the fact the Tigers didn't finish first in the six-team varsity division. And some were likely because the next time the 8th graders cheer, it will be on the hardwood of a high school gym.

But even OLHC varsity coach and director Pat Fazio and Debs coach Linda Iacono admitted that the majority of the tear drops, at least indirectly, had to do with the fact Our Lady Help of Christians is closing its doors for good in June.

"A lot of those tears today are because some of the girls know they're going to another school next year and they will no longer be cheering for our program,'' said Iacono. "They'll be going to another elementary school in the fall and, honestly, we can't blame them for not continuing to cheer with us when they're going to be at another school.

"It doesn't work. And we understand that.''

Nonetheless, the sting is still fresh as everyone learned about the school's closure almost seven weeks ago. Fortunately for the cheerleading squads, they had enough time to let the news sink in, then get back to business before March hit.

The Tigers gave an admirable effort on all levels Saturday despite knowing it was the last time their teams would perform together with the current rosters. A tip of the cap to these young ladies for performing well under heart-breaking conditions.

Our Lady Help of Christians' varsity cheerleading team performs its routine during Saturday's CYO Archdiocesan competition at the College of Staten Island. (Staten Island Advance/Charlie De Biase Jr.)

"It's there last time together, but for the girls that are leaving, we'll always consider them alumni,'' Fazio said. "They're still part of us, but we're also planning on moving forward as well.''

Fazio, in fact, came up with a slogan that some of her coaches and girls had on the back of t-shirts.

It reads: "When our doors close, we push through.''

"We don't want it to end,'' admits Fazio, who is assisted by Gianna Pepe and Paige Fazio Wentworth. "We're going to push on. Yes, the school is closing, but the program remains the same. It still exists, we just need the girls and we're going to do what we have to to keep it the same.''

Fazio and Iacono said they're hoping expose of its program by reaching out to surrounding public schools such as the Totten Intermediate School (I.S. 34), PS 1 and PS 6.

"We want everyone to know that we're still here,'' added Iacono, who is assisted by Jackie Caiazza. "And hopefully, when word gets out that the cheerleading program will remain, we'll continue to get the girls we need to run it the way we want to.''

The Tigers, in fact, are already planning tryouts for May. Those wishing to joing OLHC's cheerleading program can reach out to Fazio at patfaz103@aol.com or Iacono at mrsyakono2@aol.com.