- November 25, 2024
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This year, a new cheerleading squad for individuals with disabilities will take the field at the Pop Warner pee wee games alongside the pee wee cheerleaders. The seven Challenger cheerleaders will experience the joys of sports while they learn teamwork and build social skills.
This is the first time any of the girls have participated in an organized sport.
It’s also the first time Flagler County has had a squad like this, and it’s one of only two in the Pop Warner East Coast Conference.
Coach Sue Chirco leads the squad with assistant coaches Stephanie Belgrave and Jessica Hull.
“I’m a complete advocate for getting these kids out there and having them have fun and show off their abilities, not their disabilities,” Chirco said.
The squad will participate in all home games by cheering on the sidelines and in a half-time performance.
The girls will also attend all the competitions as a performance squad, including districts in October, held at the Ocean Center, in Daytona Beach, regionals held in November, in Orlando, and the Pop Warner National Competition in December, at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.
Currently there is no cost for the members to participate, thanks to sponsorships and donations. Chirco said she hopes to always keep the squad free for participants. The average cost is $700 per girl to go through the entire season.
“The whole Falcon family has really stepped up and become big sisters for our girls,” Chirco said.
This was evident last weekend at the opening ceremonies, when the entire cheer program shifted their performance to accommodate a Challenger cheerleader, who needed to sit down because of the heat.
“All 127 girls turned the whole cheer setup because of her,” Chirco said. “It was amazing that the whole family just stepped up.”
In just the first four days of practice, the squad has learned 10 cheers and was prepared to show off their stuff at their first home game, held Aug. 21, at Flagler Palm Coast High School. They will host the other Challenger squad in the district, the Ormond Beach Sandcrab Stars, Sept. 28, at Matanzas High School.
To donate to the program, call the Flagler County PAL office, at 586-6300.
