T
he Shaler Area varsity competitive cheerleading squad
can now add the words “World Champions” to its list of
accolades.
In February, the tight-knit squad won gold at the World
School Cheerleading Championship and silver at the National
High School Cheerleading Championship at Disney’s Wide
World of Sports Complex in Orlando.
“I’m extremely proud of their dedication and how well they
support each other,” says head coach Phyllis Schatz. “Their work
ethic is simply fabulous.”
The competitive squad bested eight other teams from around
the globe to win the world competition, and competed against
more than 40 teams at nationals. Last year, the team came
in second place in the world championship. In the national
competition, they lost by just .05 to the first-place team for the
second year in a row.
Schatz, who’s been coaching cheerleading for more than
35 years, credits the squad’s success to its strong leadership,
which includes assistant coach Becky Troppman and veteran
upperclassmen.
“We have two seniors and six juniors on the competitive
squad this year, and they have been instrumental in motivating
the underclassmen,” she says. “They’ve instilled a strong work
ethic in the younger girls, and proved how important and
challenging it is to see results.”
At the competition, the girls performed a complicated, two-
and-a-half-minute routine featuring strong tumbling passes and
an intricate pyramid sequence that highlighted their elite skills.
The squad’s performance at nationals aired on ESPN in the
spring.
The competition team is comprised of 17 girls, with 16 on the
floor and one alternate. There are 26 girls on the varsity squad in
all, and the girls also cheer at basketball and football games and
are actively involved in community projects. They participate in
the Race for the Cure on Mother’s Day, an ovarian cancer walk
in September and an annual Buddy Walk with special needs
students.
“They do a great deal in the community to support other
people,” says Schatz. “Their commitment really extends way
beyond cheering.”
The squad typically practices about three times a week,
but in the month prior to a competition, they practice four or
five times a week. The squad has been competing at regional,
state and national levels since the 1970s, says Schatz, and is
consistently ranked in the top 10. The team won first place at
the 2017 WPIAL championship and placed fifth at the PIAA
championships.
Schatz points out that every year presents a new challenge, as
skills grow more difficult and expectations increase. Practices
for next year began in May, and the girls will practice two days a
week throughout the summer.
“The girls really want to compete—their main goal is to win,”
says Schatz. “They’re a dedicated group. They know that if you
want to be among the best, you have to put that determination
into your routines, too.” n
Shaler | Summer 2017 | icmags.com 19